As we open the pages of the Gospel of John, we are met with a truth that resonates through the ages: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to dwell among us, to reveal the Father’s heart, and to reconcile humanity to Himself. In the aftermath of His resurrection, we find a poignant moment where Jesus commissions His disciples, empowering them with the Holy Spirit and declaring, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21).

To fully grasp the weight of Jesus’ words, we must first understand the context of His own sending. The apostle John introduces us to this concept in the opening verses of his gospel, declaring, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The eternal Son of God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father, willingly took on human form, entering our broken world to reconcile us to God.

Jesus was sent on a mission to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He said He came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). From the manger to the cross, His every step was marked by obedience to the Father’s will, culminating in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’” – John 20:21

Just as the Father sent the Son, so the Son sends His disciples. This idea, that followers of Jesus are “sent ones,” is clear in many places throughout Scripture.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 articulates this well:

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We are called to be ambassadors of Christ, representatives of His kingdom with The Good News that has the power to transform lives and nations.

Yet, this sending is not a solitary endeavor. Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit, the very presence of God within us, empowering us to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). We are not sent alone but in the strength and guidance of the Spirit, who equips us for the task at hand.

The scope of our sending is vast, encompassing every tribe, tongue, and nation. Just as the Father sent the Son to redeem a fallen world, so we are sent to proclaim the message of salvation to every people group. Our mission field extends beyond the walls of our churches and into our families, workplaces, and communities.

We are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16), agents of transformation in a world that desperately needs the hope and healing found in Christ. Our words and actions should bear witness to The Gospel, inviting others to experience the love and grace that have so profoundly impacted our own lives.

Yet, even as we acknowledge the weight of our calling, we must remember that we do not go forth in our own strength. Jesus, the one who sends us, is also the one who empowers us. He promises to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). Moreover, He promises us the Holy Spirit to empower us to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). We are not sent alone but in the strength and guidance of the Spirit, who equips us for the task at hand.

When we feel weak or lacking, we can find encouragement from the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.  For I decided to know nothing among you except  Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”

As we surrender ourselves fully to His leading, we can expect to see the manifestation of His power, not our own.

The message we carry as ambassadors of Christ is one of hope and grace. It is The Good News that sin and death have been conquered, that the chains of bondage have been broken, and that a new life, abundant and eternal, is available to all who embrace the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

This message is not merely a set of doctrines or a philosophical construct; it is a living, breathing reality that has the power to change lives. As ambassadors, we are invited to proclaim this message with boldness and conviction, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us to touch hearts and minds, bringing healing, restoration, and reconciliation.

As we embrace our role as ambassadors of Christ, we can take comfort in the promise of His abiding presence. Jesus assured His disciples, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). This promise extends to us, His modern-day ambassadors, reminding us that we are never alone in our mission.

The Holy Spirit, the very presence of God within us, empowers us, guides us, and sustains us in our journey. It is through His strength that we can overcome obstacles, persevere in the face of opposition, and remain steadfast in our commitment to representing Christ faithfully.

Beloved, as we reflect on Jesus’ words in John 20:21, may we be gripped by the weight and wonder of our calling. We are not mere spectators in the grand narrative of redemption; we are active participants, sent forth by the risen Savior to be His ambassadors in a world that desperately needs the hope found in Christ alone.