Missionaries are sent from one place—usually their home—to another place to preach and serve others. As the Apostle Paul stated, “How can they preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:15) That truth calls our attention to the words of Jesus, “As the Father sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:21) Jesus was sent. We can understand this by looking at his job description. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus announced, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19) Jesus’ job description included his being anointed by the Spirit and sent by the Lord to minister to the poor and the oppressed. His time on earth was spent carrying out the tasks the Father had given him. Later he would summarize his job description in one word: servant.
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life –a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28) The Son of Man (the title Jesus used for himself) had a twofold purpose in life: to be a servant and to be a ransom. Let’s consider those two words.
In their culture a servant and a slave were virtually the same thing. Both words imply someone under the authority of a higher ranked person. Both servants and slaves were expected to obey the wishes of their master. A slave often did hard work in the fields. A servant might work in the house, preparing their master’s food or washing their feet. Sometimes their life was bitter, but with a good master their life might be pleasant and even desirable. But always the life of a servant was dedicated to making someone other than themselves happy and comfortable. It is safe to say that everyone wanted to be served. No one chose to be a servant—except for Jesus.
Jesus’ use of the word “ransom” might surprise us. A ransom was the price paid to free a slave (Leviticus 27:31), so Jesus was a slave sent to free the slaves! But the word “ransom” could also mean the payment for the forgiveness of sin. According to Psalms not even the wealthiest person has enough money to redeem himself (Psalm 49:6-9). Money can’t redeem a sinner. What we can’t do for ourselves, Jesus did for us: giving his life as a sacrifice to redeem many lives!
So Jesus’ job description was to be a servant and a sacrifice. This is what the Father sent him to do. But then he connected his having been sent to his disciples being sent: “As the Father sent me, I also send you.” (John 20:21) Jesus sent his disciples to continue his ministry. Their job description was to be an extension of his job description! What does that mean?
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high positions exercise power over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life—a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:2528).
Thus Jesus told his disciples that his ministry as a servant and a sacrifice was also to be their ministry. His disciples should not seek to become kings or powerful officials but to be servants to one another just as he was: helping one another and forgiving one another. They must also minister to the poor and liberate the oppressed.
This is also our job description. We will not be the redeemer for sinners, but we can tell them about the One who is their redeemer. And we are to build upon Jesus’ work of service by proclaiming the gospel of redemption and freedom to the poor, the blind, the captives, and the oppressed. Jesus has sent us to continue his ministry.
Greg Giles is a published author, who, along with his wife Jean, has embraced the call to serve and teach around the globe. Their life together has included missionary work in Liberia, Bangladesh, teaching in China, and raising a family in Bemidji, Minnesota. Between global travels and local commitments, including serving as superintendent of Corn Bible Academy and their current part-time roles at Corn Heritage Village, the Gileses have found “home” in many places; yet, they now happily reside in retirement in Cordell. Please visit his website at reflections-on-wisdom.com.
GREG GILES
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