AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU (JOHN 20:19-23)
Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye | Provost
This whole week the Lord has been encouraging us to go out and preach the gospel.
Today we are looking at the words of Jesus in John 20: 21 where the bible says that “As the father has sent me, so I send you.” This signifies the continuity of Jesus’ mission through his followers whom he had engaged and mentored for three years. Sending disciples to proclaim the gospel comes from Jesus’ urgency because many people who claim to know Jesus are not living out their faith. The bible says “Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images.” Romans 1:21-23. It is the dominance of sin in the world that calls us to step out at this command to go and take the gospel to the whole world beginning from our Jerusalem. As stated in Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Sin made them to forsake the glory of God in order to serve their interests. God’s love becomes evident when people realize their sin and turn their hearts to God.
The sending is evident in John 3:16-18; For God so loved the world that he gave; this is sending his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned that is, does not stay under wrath, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God (John 3:16-18). In John 3:36; whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. He came to deliver people from his wrath and Judgement. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3).
The task today is very real because many have abandoned the truth for a lie. There is pain of ignorance of the word in all sectors of the world. Sin has entered people’s homes, there is no fear of God, there is a lot of addictions, lack of direction, young people are lost in drugs. The devil continues to roar like a hungry lion looking for people to devour as stated in 1 Peter 5:8. Our society is longing for redemption. God is looking for men and women who are willing to respond to the call to go out into the world and preach the gospel. Will you be willing to step out and go? Our offices, families, friends and relatives need Jesus so let us begin from those closest to us before going to distant places. Will you arise this week and tell one person about Jesus. His disciples represented by the believers today must fulfill the mission that Jesus left in the world. Many people are soaked in religion just as the Pharisees were, mocking Jesus, yet very religious. Religion can blind many people not to see the truth of the gospel and eventually miss heaven. Will you hid to his call to go and win souls for Jesus. As my father sent me, so I send you.
God Bless you
The Very Rev. Canon Dr. Rebecca Nyegenye
Provost