Mission and Crucifixion

“Greater love has no one than this, that a man lays down his life for his friends.”

This is the heart of sacrifice and mission. True life in Jesus only comes through the death of Jesus first, and then in us as we follow. Unless a seed falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. Life only comes through death.

As I pace the floor of my room, contemplating staying up all night in prayer tonight as a way to join Jesus in his long night in Gethsemane (we’ll see if I actually stay up all night), I can’t help but think, as he did, of the cross to come. This week we observe Holy Week. We journey with Jesus through his final days before his crucifixion: that culminating act that, through death, brings life. And I’ve been reflecting on what the crucifixion means to mission.

It’s become much more vivid to me that the call to follow Jesus is a call to join his mission, and that that mission can only begin by picking up our cross. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “when Christ calls a man (or woman) he bids him come and die.” But we know that following Jesus into death doesn’t end there. We are called, in new life, to join Jesus on mission.

Jesus commanded his disciples to love others as he loved them. As we join him in mission, we do so through many deaths, great and small. We make sacrifices of comfort. We suffer awkwardness. We sacrifice resources, time, and energy. We risk our reputations. We spend extra time discipling our children when it’s hard, etc. All of this in hopes that through these deaths will come new life in Jesus. Jesus says “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:24-25)

But it’s all too easy in our church cultures to think that “mission” is an extracurricular activity, usually reserved for a select few we call “missionaries.” But it is not a call for a few. It is the call to all of Jesus’ disciples. In one way or another, all of us, if we are truly following Jesus, are on his mission to bring his kingdom of life and love to the world around us. Some are sent specifically to far away places to live cross culturally, but many of us are called to stay in our own communities, jobs, and families, to live out the mission of God’s Kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. That’s such an amazing thing!

But it can be hard to hear that it might require some pain, some sacrifice to walk fully in the life of mission to which God has called us. But remember, it was scary for Jesus too. Days before his crucifixion he said,

“NOW IS MY SOUL TROUBLED. AND WHAT SHALL I SAY? ‘FATHER, SAVE ME FROM THIS HOUR’? BUT FOR THIS PURPOSE I HAVE COME TO THIS HOUR. FATHER, GLORIFY YOUR NAME.” – JOHN 12:27

Even still, in Gethsemane, in agony, he prayed:

“FATHER, IF YOU ARE WILLING, REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME. NEVERTHELESS, NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS, BE DONE.” – LUKE 22:42

He knew that his suffering, his pain, would glorify the Lord and bring new life for himself and the world. The purposes of mission are interwoven with the cross; to die to ourselves so that God’s Kingdom will advance, people will be redeemed by Jesus, and God will receive more glory and become more famous! What an incredible thing to be called to join!

Living a life of mission is hard. It requires a lot from us, in fact everything. But a life on sacrificial, purposeful, obedient mission is the only way we will live in the fullness of the life into which God has called us. This is the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus. Whether you are laying down your life for your family, to serve your neighbors, to model Jesus to your co-workers, or go overseas to minister cross-culturally – whatever life situation the Lord has put you in – you can live your life on purpose, for his glory, and his Kingdom come. That includes every corner of our city, every neighborhood and block, every cubicle, every room in our home. Wherever you are living your life, it is God’s, and his Kingdom will come to rule there. You can live it for his mission.

So this week, I encourage you to reflect on how you are joining Jesus in his mission. What cross are you being called to pick up? What suffering are you bearing now that begs for renewed life? Whatever hardship, whatever death we join him in on Friday, know that through it comes Sunday. When the seeds of our life fall to the ground and die, they bear much fruit. This is the glorious way of God’s Kingdom. Through Golgotha comes glory. Be strong and courageous. Through our crosses come new life. Let’s pick them up with joy.

May the Lord encourage you and grow you in your place in his mission this Holy WeeK.