Study in John’s Gospel

Study in John’s Gospel Presentation 35

The Place Of Mission Chap 10:11-21 Presentation 35

Introduction Today there is a confusion of voices each urging a particular view of the mission on the church. Some believe that the age of the missionary is over, and think, incorrectly, that everyone has heard the gospel message. Others question the right of the Christian church to seek the conversion of men and women from other faiths, or they passionately debate the methods of mission that are employed. Still others look out on a world in turmoil and conclude that missionary enterprise, in these unstable days, is a hopeless and self-defeating task. But Jesus left us with a clear pattern for mission Presentation 35

Introduction Prior to his ascension into heaven Jesus said to his disciples, “as the Father has sent me so send I you” Jn.20.21. What does that mean? Jesus saw himself as a blueprint for mission! He was saying in effect, “Are you concerned about motive for mission? Imitate mine. What method should you employ? Imitate mine. Are you concerned about what goals to set for mission? Imitate mine”. If Jesus is our blueprint for mission then there are at least three useful aspects of that mission that can be unpacked in Jn.10 a. The necessity of mission b. The method of mission c. The success of mission Presentation 35

The Necessity of Mission In v16 Jesus, speaking of ‘other’ sheep says, “I must bring them also.” One of the most striking features about the mission of Jesus is his resolve to see it accomplished. We can account for his single-mindedness in two ways. First, in his commitment to scripture; the scope of his mission was not moulded by religious or social opinion but by the scriptures. The Pharisees considered foreign nations to lie beyond the pale of salvation, and outside of the sphere of God's love. But scripture filled out the boundary of Jesus’ mission pointing as they do to the conversion and ingathering of other nations. Isa. 49v4-6 Ps.2v8 Presentation 35

The Necessity of Mission When Jesus speaks of the 'other sheep' in v16it is the Gentile nations he has in mind. They are his inheritance which he must gather in. He had established the pattern for foreign mission in Jn.4 with the Samaritan woman and also in Mk. 7v24 where his encounter with the Syro-Phoenician woman involved him in a 50-mile hike. Only a commitment to scripture can rouse us from insular Christian attitudes and cause us to look out on a needy world. It was this commitment that drove Hudson Taylor half way round the world, where he became instrumental in opening up inland China to the gospel. This same commitment will drive others to pray! Presentation 35

The Necessity of Mission Secondly, Jesus’ single-mindedness grew from an eagerness to please his Father. His obedience was not without cost, “he learned obedience through the things which he suffered” Heb.5v8. Even the prospect of suffering did not cause him to shrink from his task. After his baptism, which was a public acknowledgment that he was entering a course of obedience leading to the cross, his obedience was immediately put to the test in his wilderness temptation. There, Jesus demonstrated his commitment to the Father's will by triumphing over the tempter. Presentation 35

The Necessity of Mission There is an important application here for the individual or church fellowship that may be poised to take a fresh step of obedience in mission. Expect trial! In the C19th William Carey [later to be known as the father of the modern missionary movement] delivered a paper to a ministers’ conference on the need to obey the missionary commission and take the gospel into the unbelieving world. He was told; "Young man, sit down. You're an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen He will do so without consulting you or me". At every new step of obedience in mission expect trial! Presentation 35

The Necessity of Mission Does the thought of facing trial, when taking a new step of obedience in mission, depress you? Then remind yourself of what took place between the baptism [the step of obedience] and the temptation [a severe spiritual trial] of Jesus. For Jesus experienced, the descent of the Spirit in the form of a dove which was the promise of empowering for service and also he heard the sound of the Father's encouraging voice. The point is this, God is no less eager today to provide all that is necessary for the task of mission and he is no less committed to conveying his personal encouragement to us to proceed! Presentation 35

The Method of Mission In v11 we read, “the Good Shepherd lays down his life..." Jesus' method has baffled many and been a stumbling block to others throughout the years. It is mentioned 5 times in this chapter. In the first instance Jesus speaks of bringing ‘Life out of Death’. Ordinarily, the death of a shepherd would have meant the loss of a flock, but Jesus made the surprising claim that the death of the Good Shepherd would mean ‘life for his sheep’. He is of course referring to the cross where his sacrificial death did indeed secure eternal life for his sheep. You may well ask, how can we imitate Jesus’ method? Presentation 35

The Method of Mission There is no suggestion that we can emulate the uniqueness of Christ’s death, nevertheless an important truth is illustrated. Spiritual gain comes through loss, spiritual life comes through the deaths that we die. The apostle Paul attributes much of the success of his ministry to this principle, 2 Cor. 4v7-12… He teaches that death at work in him meant life for the Corinthian church. In what way? In the measure of the deaths the apostle dies to self, is the resurrection of Jesus’ life revealed in him, with a consequent effect upon his missionary service. Presentation 35

The Method of Mission The sort of deaths that we die varies from individual to individual. But this daily dying to self is the pathway to fruitful mission. Out of these daily dyings comes great likeness to Jesus. Rev. R. M. McCheyne, wrote to a young minister, “Remember you are God's sword, his instrument, I trust a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure according to the purity and perfections of the instrument will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses as much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God”. Do not bemoan a lack of gifts but a lack of holiness! Presentation 35

The Method of Mission A second mission principle is found in v11 - Place others before self. The only attitude that the world understands is one of self-preservation and self-interest. Jesus did not look in upon his own needs but out to the needs of his sheep. He frequently ministered to others when he was weary e.g. the Samaritan woman. William Carey conformed to the Jesus-pattern. It produced many sleepless nights and eventually took him overseas to share the gospel in India. "His pupils sometimes saw a strange sight, their master moved to tears over a geography lesson, and pointing to the continents, islands and peoples he would cry, “And they are pagans, pagans!” Presentation 35

The Method of Mission Like the false shepherds, we can succumb to the pressure of self-interest and take flight. We justify our failure to demonstrate a shepherd-like care saying, "Our problems are considerable…It would be nice to pray for mission or become involved in some way, but pressing domestic trials demand all our time." Think back to the story of Job. He had his problems; personal, domestic, social, financial and spiritual but we read in Job42v10 "the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends". Do you see the significance of this verse? When Job turned his back on his own problems and began to pray for his friends, who were clearly in greater spiritual need, then God brought relief and prosperity to Job! Presentation 35

The Success of Mission Jesus says, "they shall become one flock”v16. A claim made with staggering confidence. An astonishing claim, when understood against the background of events. The sheep were scattered and harassed, the wolves were on the prowl, irresponsible hirelings abounded and Jesus would soon face death. What then was the ground of his confidence of success? It certainly did not rest in the quality of his sheep but in the mighty activity of all three persons of the Godhead! Note their distinctive involvement. Presentation 35

The Success of Mission The involvement of the Father: These sheep bear the mark of ownership - the Father's love. They have been gifted to the Son and the Father will not deny him his inheritance which is eternally secure. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand”. v.28-29 Presentation 35

The Success of Mission 2. The Involvement of the Son: For these sheep the Son would lay down his life v11 and so pay the price of sin, satisfying God's justice and appeasing his wrath. If then there is no barrier constructed by heaven to prevent his sheep coming to him, nothing on earth can possibly stand in their way, for to everyone of Jesus’ sheep is given believing faith v26. Presentation 35

The Success of Mission 3. The Involvement of the Spirit: Although the sheep had not previously heard the Shepherd's voice, they are clearly able to recognise it and so follow him v27. Here we must recognise an implicit reference to the Holy Spirit who, among other things, enlightens the eyes of our understanding. He assures and convinces Christians that they belong to the family of God through what Jesus has accomplished on their behalf. The cross is the great objective ground of our salvation to which he points. This threefold activity of the Godhead is the foundation upon which our confidence in mission must be built. The Godhead is the oldest missionary society on record. Presentation 35

The Success of Mission Paul learned this valuable lesson in Corinth. He was so overwhelmed by the difficulties of evangelising in such an immoral sewer, that he was ready to pack up his bags and move on. Then God appeared to him in a dream saying, "fear not I have yet many people in this city." Acts 18v9-10. They were as yet unreached but they would surely come to Christ? Why? Because they were a part of Christ's inheritance. We must apply this truth when praying for the so-called unresponsive fields. When praying for Muslim lands, it is easy to be discouraged. We must allow our confidence to rest upon God, knowing that, “all that the Father has given to Jesus will come to him”. Presentation 35

Conclusion We have indicated how the pattern of Jesus’ mission can be imitated in terms of commitment to God and his Word, and by the deaths we die to self, and through placing our confidence for success in God himself. Have you become aware of your own failure to follow this pattern? Take that failure to God and ask him to quicken your heart for mission as you seek with his help to imitate the Lord Jesus. Amazingly, Jesus is prepared to trust people like us with the advancement of his kingdom! There are many sheep still without a shepherd they too must be brought into his fold! Presentation 35

Study in John’s Gospel