Toward the end of his Gospel, John writes,
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” -John 20:30-31
John is saying that the aim of this book is for all who read it to encounter and believe in the real Jesus and experience the abundant life for which God created us. As we encounter Jesus throughout this book over the next few months, we will see that he was sent by God into this world with a clear mission. We will also see that Jesus sends his people into the world with a clear mission.
Throughout John’s gospel, we see God the Father sending Jesus the Son into the world with a clear mission. This was the plan from eternity past.
The beloved disciple John records Jesus as being sent by the Father at least 25 times in this Gospel. We will see in John that God the Father loved his people so much that he sent us his Son Jesus as a gift. Jesus was sent as a gift of love so that the world might be saved through him (John 3:16-17). However, this salvation was not cheap. This mission would cost Jesus his life. He was sent to die in our place for our sins so that we might know him and have abundant life in him now and forever. What a gift of love!
After accomplishing his mission, the resurrected Savior said to his followers in John 20:21, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Jesus saved us and has now sent us, empowered by the Holy Spirit, on mission into the world (John 20:19-23). Our mission is clear. We are to walk in the Spirit empowered life that Christ has provided and to proclaim Jesus as ultimate to the world around us. Our goal as sent ones is to point others to the Son of God, the Sent One, who is the only hope of salvation for the world. What a joy that we get to be a part of what he is doing in this world!
Our prayer is that through this study of John we would encounter Jesus as being sent to save us and we would walk in the abundant and eternal life he alone offers. We also pray that we would see that as he saves us, he sends us. As this truth becomes more clear to us, we pray that he would make us more faithful and more fruitful as sent ones here on earth. Jesus was sent to save. We are saved and then sent to proclaim Jesus. I can’t wait to encounter Jesus and experience all he as for us as we walk through this book together. Praise God that he sent Jesus the Son!
