On Mission: Leaning Forward
Matthew 16
When I think about the word "Mission" there is a very clear picture of what that word means. I see fighter aircraft rocketing off the deck of an aircraft carrier; flying into harm's way. I can hear the pound of rubber soled boots on pavement as firefighters race toward the heat and smoke of a burning building. I can feel the cold spray kicked up by the rotor blades of the Coast Guard chopper as her crew searches the darkness for victims lost at sea. Mission means accomplishing something and its usually in a hostile environment.
Jesus leads his disciples into a hostile environment to explain the mission. Matthew 16:13 has Jesus and the guys entering the city of Caesarea Philippi. Peter, James, John and the rest must have wondered what in the world they were doing there. "CP" was the red-light district of Israel. Not a place "good" Jewish boys hung out. The people there worshiped the half-man half-goat god, Pan. They believed the river flowing from the cave of Mount Hermon was Pan's transportation to and from the Underworld. They believed Pan would travel every Fall to Hell and come back in the Spring in order to give the people and land the fertility it needed to sustain life. They believed the cave was the "gates of Hell". This was a city quite literally knocking on the doors of Hell. When you knock on the doors of Hell long enough someone is bound to answer. (for more info go to www.followtherabbi.com an EXCELLENT site with lots of good stuff!)
It was here in a place that seems so contrary to the message of Jesus that he gives his disciples the core of their mission, our mission. In verse 18 Jesus says, with Mount Hermon and its giant cave in view, "on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it". For those who want to be on mission or have a missional focus these words of Jesus ought to be in the fronts of our brains and thundering in our hearts.
A few thoughts. Jesus lays the foundation for the mission by telling us it is based and anchored on him. "On this rock", refers to the fact that He is the one who gives the mission and it is centered on him not anything or anyone else. It is all about Jesus. Another observation is that Jesus is on the move. He says he will build his church. Jesus is very active among his creation now. Being a Christ follower is movement not remaining static. Lastly it is a mission on offense not defense. Storming the enemies gates is scary work.
This last message from our Theology of Risk series asks the question of what are we willing to risk for the mission? Are we wiling to risk our money, time, energy, will, and preferences for the souls of people? Churches that wish to play it safe will not risk anything and will consequently gain little in return. I hope that we always are ready to ask God "what next" and "what if"? What kind of church is God calling us to be? What kind of Christ follower is he calling you and I to be?
"I do not wish to live within the sound of a chapel or steeple bell but to run a rescue mission a yard from the gates of hell".
Missionary C.T. Studd
When I think about the word "Mission" there is a very clear picture of what that word means. I see fighter aircraft rocketing off the deck of an aircraft carrier; flying into harm's way. I can hear the pound of rubber soled boots on pavement as firefighters race toward the heat and smoke of a burning building. I can feel the cold spray kicked up by the rotor blades of the Coast Guard chopper as her crew searches the darkness for victims lost at sea. Mission means accomplishing something and its usually in a hostile environment.
Jesus leads his disciples into a hostile environment to explain the mission. Matthew 16:13 has Jesus and the guys entering the city of Caesarea Philippi. Peter, James, John and the rest must have wondered what in the world they were doing there. "CP" was the red-light district of Israel. Not a place "good" Jewish boys hung out. The people there worshiped the half-man half-goat god, Pan. They believed the river flowing from the cave of Mount Hermon was Pan's transportation to and from the Underworld. They believed Pan would travel every Fall to Hell and come back in the Spring in order to give the people and land the fertility it needed to sustain life. They believed the cave was the "gates of Hell". This was a city quite literally knocking on the doors of Hell. When you knock on the doors of Hell long enough someone is bound to answer. (for more info go to www.followtherabbi.com an EXCELLENT site with lots of good stuff!)
It was here in a place that seems so contrary to the message of Jesus that he gives his disciples the core of their mission, our mission. In verse 18 Jesus says, with Mount Hermon and its giant cave in view, "on this rock, I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it". For those who want to be on mission or have a missional focus these words of Jesus ought to be in the fronts of our brains and thundering in our hearts.
A few thoughts. Jesus lays the foundation for the mission by telling us it is based and anchored on him. "On this rock", refers to the fact that He is the one who gives the mission and it is centered on him not anything or anyone else. It is all about Jesus. Another observation is that Jesus is on the move. He says he will build his church. Jesus is very active among his creation now. Being a Christ follower is movement not remaining static. Lastly it is a mission on offense not defense. Storming the enemies gates is scary work.
This last message from our Theology of Risk series asks the question of what are we willing to risk for the mission? Are we wiling to risk our money, time, energy, will, and preferences for the souls of people? Churches that wish to play it safe will not risk anything and will consequently gain little in return. I hope that we always are ready to ask God "what next" and "what if"? What kind of church is God calling us to be? What kind of Christ follower is he calling you and I to be?
"I do not wish to live within the sound of a chapel or steeple bell but to run a rescue mission a yard from the gates of hell".
Missionary C.T. Studd
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