Full Service

Famous last words.

Normally—urgency, importance, priority

The disciples were holed up likely in the upper room paralyzed in fear. Although Jesus was purported to be alive (some in the room had been to the empty tomb), they were anticipating the religious elite to show up and ensure that the Jesus gang were fully eliminated...On Easter evening Jesus came and stood among them!...and delivered His last words... John’s version of the Great Commission! 5X—Matt-Galilee, Mk. Jerusalem, Luke Jerusalem, John Jerusalem, Acts (Luke) Mt of Olives Jerusalem

3 big-time mission realities..

1. The Promised Gift of His Kingdom—“Peace to you!” (20:19-20)

Behold my hands and side—propitiation is finished, justification is available and if “justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1)

- Peace with God
- Peace of God

2. The Mantle of Mission—“As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” (20:21)

- To go to their world (Jn. 1:14)
- To pursue their salvation (Matt 9:13; Lk. 19:10)
- To glorify Christ before them (Jn. 17:4)

3. The Intimacy and Empowerment of the Spirit of Jesus –“Receive the Holy Spirit”/ “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” (20:22-23; 1:33; 1 Jn. 4:13)

- To advance the work of God in sanctification and mission (Jn. 17:17-19)

Discipleship is genuine belief (faith) in Christ and the indwelling of the Son of God

- To be entrusted with the agency of God to the world of His forgiveness or unwillingness to forgive (Matt. 16:19; 18:18; Lk. 24:47; Jn. 3:17-21; 9:39-41; 17:14)