Misunderstood Mission
There are planned mission trips that have clear goals and purposes to each place. I know missionaries in Indonesia, Africa, Nicaragua and many other places in the world. Their mission is to tell others about Jesus so that they can be saved and have the abundant life here and eternal life after this life. Jesus came to bring that life. His mission was to do what the Father sent Him to do – give His life as the Ultimate Sacrifice for sin. Jesus understood His mission, but lots of others misunderstood His mission. It took a good bit of repetitive instruction before the 12 disciples understood. The religious leaders and teachers of the law didn’t get His mission. They were too busy keeping the rules that they made up to go along with the law. Jesus had called them out about this and so they turned a “deaf ear” to His teaching.
Jesus, the Only Son of God was totally misunderstood by most of the people whom He came to teach and lead. He was crucified on “trumped up charges”. He was mocked, ridiculed and beaten, but He didn’t give up on His mission. As He was on the cross, He was still verbally abused and scoffed at. He completed His mission even though He was totally misunderstood. Check this out…
39 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. 40 “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
41 The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. 42 “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! 43 He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way. (Matthew 27:39-44 NLT)
I am so thankful that Jesus stayed on mission. I have hope today because He endured the mission of His life. The Fathers plan was one final sacrifice for sin and the sacrifice was the death of His Son. Jesus not only died for the sins of the world, He conquered death. He did rise from death on the third day after He was crucified. I often wonder how many of the people who were in the crowd yelling “crucify Him” repented of their sin and turned to Him. I wonder if Paul’s mission and teaching changed their minds about Jesus later. He was here. He was killed. He was gone. That had to baffle them.
I believe that Jesus calls me on a mission to grow in my love for God and to love others like the Lord loves. I show my love for God by serving others. I want to be on mission in my life, even if I’m misunderstood.
Pressing On!
Dwayne