Psalm 118.14-29 Acts 5.27-32 Revelation 1.4-8 John 20.19-31
Missionaries of Peace
Who today senses the call of God to missions? Who will step out in obedience and offer themselves to the Lord of the harvest? The fields are ripe, but the labourers are few. If God is calling, don’t hold back…I see that hand brother…thank you sister in the back row…yes, young man, you come on right down to the front. God is calling. God is calling. Don’t harden your heart to the voice of his Spirit. Give your all for God…after all, he gave his all for you.
Have you ever heard an appeal like that before? Such appeals have been made from many pulpits worldwide for many years, often accompanied by strong emotional and manipulative language designed to be convicting and persuasive.
But what exactly is this “call” they speak about? Many young believers responded to invitations to come forward only to be thrown into utter confusion the next day when others reacted to the “call” that had seemed so clear the day before. What constitutes God’s call to missions? If God is calling, why the confusion?
Dr Herbert Kane blamed it on an incorrect concept of missions. In his book, “Life and Work on the Mission Field”, he wrote: “The term missionary call should never have been coined. It is not scriptural and therefore can be harmful. Thousands of youths desiring to serve the Lord have waited for some mysterious ‘missionary call’ that never came. After a time, they became weary of waiting and gave up the idea of going to the mission field.”
But what is a missionary call? Or what is a mission field? Or, indeed, what is a missionary? Is the “mission field” defined by a specific distance and the missionary by a specific vocation?
The term mission is derived from a Latin word meaning “to send”. A missionary is therefore a person who is sent somewhere. But how does the one sent know if they should go, and when they should go, and where they should go? It is here that the idea of a “call” comes into play.
The word “call” is used 148 times directly and 70 times indirectly in the New Testament. But the context usually refers to a call to salvation and a certain quality of life as a believer in Jesus. There are a few references to a “call” to a specific task or ministry, but the word is primarilly used in connection with the relationship God wishes to have with his children.
Keep this in mind as we explore the Gospel passage for today…and perhaps we might just come up with a biblical concept of missions and missionaries.
The narrative begins in the evening of the first day of the week…the day of the resurrection. Up until this time, the disciples only had the word of the women who had seen the risen Jesus, as well as, perhaps, the report of the disciples who had been on the road to Emmaus, and they seem to have treated these reports with much skepticism. However, they were gathered together for some purpose, perhaps to discuss the disappearance of the Lord’s body or to interogate Mary Magdalene, Cleopas, and the other disciple from Emmaus.
We can safely assume that the women were present as well because in Acts 1:14 we see that they were regarded as part of the group. The only one apparently not present, was Thomas, which, in the scheme of things, seems to have been providentially ordered as the group learned a lesson they would never forget. Besides, what would we preachers have done with out dear old doubting Thomas?
John wrote that the doors were locked for fear of the Jews. This was, in itself, not cowardly, but rather prudent and wise. We ought not to tempt the Lord by flagrantly testing his protecting power. It is quite godly to take the necessary precautions.
So, if John was not saying this to chide the disciples, why did he mention such a seemingly insignificant piece of historical trivia? I think that its because he wanted to give us one more image of the power of the resurrection. Although still very much clothed in a physical, tangible, touchable body, Jesus was now able to appear and dissappear at will, travel from place to place in a non-physical manner, and to enter an otherwise impregnable room without the usual means of entry. Note that John did not say that Jesus passed through the locked doors, but he simply stated that despite the locked doors Jesus came and stood in their midst.
If you remember, a similar thing happened to Peter in the Jerusalem prison as recorded in Acts 12, only there the doors and gates actually opened of their own accord. In our Lord’s case, his entry transcends the physical yet does not deny the physical nor necessitate a purely spiritual body or something like a ghost.
From Luke’s account, we see that this was exactly what the disciples thought he was…a ghost. In chapter 24:37-38 we read: “But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Exactly how Jesus managed to gain entrance to a closed room and still be physically tangible is beyond our mental capacity. We will have to wait for our own resurrection bodies to experience this phenomenal, not to mention really cool ability.
But the more important thing to realise at this point is that when Jesus ascended to be seated on his glorious throne, he ascended in a bodily form, albeit a glorified bodily form, to reign as a Man on behalf of humanity. As the Second Adam, our King and Lord and Advocate is not without understanding…he knows what it is like to be human…but he is also not limited by walls or doors or windows. Meditate on that when you get home…
Notice too the very ordinary and yet profound salutation he used to greet his disciples. “Shalom aleichem” is a general greeting in Hebrew culture even to this day, but in this specific context the ordinary became extraordinary. Normally, the term is used to wish good health, long life, prosperity, and happiness to the recipient, but think about all that had transpired before.
The recipients of this greeting had deserted their Rabbi, one had denied him, and they all had in many ways rejected his teaching…a teaching they had never really understood nor believed anyway. And still Jesus greeted them with this most comprehensive of greetings. Peace be with you. As such the words gain a new and greater meaning. In two simple words, Shalom aleichem, Jesus offered them a peace that transcends understanding…a peace between the offended and the offender…a peace between a holy God and sinful humanity…in short, the words convey nothing less than full and complete reconciliation.
What an amazing understatement then to say that the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord! Heap on the superlatives! Overjoyed, ecstatic, rapturous, euphoric, jubilant, thrilled, awed…the Son of Righteousness had risen and there was healing in his wings! There is complete forgiveness for all who believe on him…he has dealt with sin and Satan and death once for all…and he is alive! What joy! What hope! What love!
He then showed them his wounds to confirm that it was really him. Some have wondered why his wounds had not disappeared after he was raised, but that which bought us our salvation is far too glorious to hide from the sight of the redeemed. In eternity to come we will still humbly and lovingly gaze with deep gratitude on those wounds that redeemed us. Of course, they also serve to remind everyone of the awful cost of sin…we should never take our salvation for granted…grace may be free, but it was not cheap.
It is possible that our Lord had to offer a second greeting to break the awe-filled silence. Or perhaps it was to quiten them back down again…
But it is after the second greeting that Jesus recommissioned them. But notice that while they had been heralds of his incarnation before, they were now witnesses to his resurrection power and, as such, they were representatives and ambassadors for the King and his kingdom.
However, I do believe, that in this recommissioning, Jesus had the whole Church in mind. Not just the Church in general, but also every individual in the Church. In other words, his words extend to the global body, the local body, as well as the individual. The key to understanding what he was saying is found in the two prepositions “as” and “also,” or “even so”. “As the Father has sent me,” Jesus said, “even so (or also) I am sending you.”
This does not mean that the Church in any way, shape, or form, shares in the atoning mission of Jesus, but rather the emphasis lies in the intentional preaching and teaching of every member with the goal of extending the boundaries of the Kingdom throughout the world. As his role had been to reveal the Father regardless of the response, so we too ought to tell others about the Gospel without reference to whether they accept the message or not. Remember, his authority was from God and so is ours. All authority in both heaven and earth has been given to Jesus…therefore we have his authority to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20).
Now, there are two parts to this task. The first has to do with our witness of what God has done in and through Jesus for all his people. In Matthew 24:14 Jesus said, “…this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Again, in Luke 24:47-48 he said, “…repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
In Acts 1:8, Jesus repeated himself once again: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Obviously, the fact that we ought to be witnesses must have been quite important for our Lord to repeat himself this often, don’t you think?
But this witness to Jesus must produce an invitation to forsake everything that is contrary to God’s revealed will and to embrace everything that is in accord with God’s revealed will. It is a puting “off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24).
The New Testament presents us with many examples of those who obeyed the Lord’s commission, but none so great as Paul himself. If ever there was a man who was aware of the eternal weight of his mission, it was him. In Romans 1:14 he said that he regarded himself as a debtor to everyone. To him, Jesus had paid for all his sins and in gratitude he became a debtor to the world. Indeed, how can one ever repay such a great gift as what Jesus gave us? As Jesus had given his all to make salvation available to all, so now, Paul gave his all to make that salvation known to all. As Jesus had been sent, so too Paul believed he was sent.
He felt this so strongly that he said in 1 Corinthians 9:16-17, “For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.”
From what we read in this statement it seems that this was no easy task for Paul. As he said in 2 Corinthians 5:14, “For the love of Christ controls us…” or “constrains us” or “compels us” to declare the wondrous truth of the Gospel.
These same words of Jesus and the writers of the New Testament Epistles, call us to be witnesses. You have no need for a mysterious call or voice or vision. You have been told. He has told you. He has shown you. Now, go and do likewise.
The second part of this commission has to do with so-called “good works”. In Matthew 5:16, Jesus said: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Here too we have the example of Jesus and the early believers. Acts shows us that the Church was highly esteemed by many…even those who did not dare join them because of the hoilness revealed through their works. Would that the modern Church had that problem! People refusing to darken her doors because of her godliness!
These good works make the otherwise non-touchable preaching of the Gospel palpable and tangible. It is the cup of cold water given in his name that often brings others into the Kingdom. But we cannot do works only without a witness. People need to know why we do what we do. Remember Paul and Barnabas were declared gods in Lystra after having healed a crippled man because they were unable to preach in the Lyconian language. Works without an explanation can easilly be misinterpreted!
Works must be accompanied with the preaching of the gospel if they are to have any eternal and salvific effect.
And then, in an act that must conjure up images of creation, Jesus breathed on his disciples saying, “receive the Holy Spirit”. As God breathed life into the lifeless form of Adam at creation, so now Jesus breathed life into people who, prior to the cross, had been dead in tresspasses and sins.
And then, at Pentecost, he sealed his commission by pouring out his Holy Spirit on all believers, equipping them with his power and ability to do the work of the ministry. The same Spirit who was present at Creation…the same Spirit who did miracles through Jesus…the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead…now lives in every single believer. Through him we are given gifts and abilities to do whatever he has appointed us to do, and these gifts and abilities are always equal to our duties.
The coming of the Holy Spirit was not only to apply the salvation purchased for us on the cross, but he also came to give us the power and the ability to fulfil his divine commission. Because of his indwelling presence, every member of Christ’s Church has already been called and equipped to be witnesses to Jesus in both word and deed. There is no need for another mystical call that may or may never come. You are called. You are equipped.
Ours is a message of peace and reconciliation…a Gospel of forgiveness of sins that must be heard by the world. The chief aim of preaching is reconciliation between an estranged God and his people through the declaration of forgiveness of sins by free grace.
And therefore, Jesus said in verse 23: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now, the Church is not given power here to actually forgive the sins of people, but rather to declare, as representatives of the one whose death made forgiveness possible, the actuality of this gracious offer by the acceptance of what is proclaimed.
Jesus is not bestowing upon us that which is uniquely his to give, but he identifies with us so closely and with our message to such a degree so as to make the declaration and the actual forgiveness one and the same. In other words, when someone comes to faith in Jesus through the preaching of the Gospel, we as members of the Church, can declare that their sins have been forgiven. And likewise, to those who reject this offer of mercy and grace, the Church can safely say that forgiveness has not been received and therefore sins have been retained.
Dearest beloved brethren, every one of us has been called to be witnesses to the one who died for us and who set us free from sin, death, and the devil. There is no need for any voice or any chills or any visions. You are called. You are a witness. Together with the Church throughout the ages you and I are constrained…compelled…by the love of God to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus…a Gospel of peace and reconciliation to all people. It is the will of God that the whole world hear the offer of salvation, and yet, as Paul says, how will they hear without a preacher?
Woe to us if we do not preach the Gospel as the failure to do so testifies to a gross ingratitude. To do so is to receive an exceedingly great and abundant gift that we are not willing to share. We are called to speak and to live out what we believe. In order to do so, we need to know him, and we need to know his Word so that we may represent him clearly and truthfully as faithful ambassadors of his kingdom.
So, look to the wounds of your Lord Jesus today. Look closely. See the nail prints in his hands and feet and the stab wound in his side. Those scars are what bought you your freedom. Those scars are what purchased your salvation. Those scars are what brought you into God’s eternal kingdom. Those scars are what gave you access to the throne room of God Almighty.
Could we possibly be so callous as to look at those scars and not be moved to action?
So, let us covenant with God right now…to not let another minute pass without us witnessing ceaselessly to all we encounter each day in both word and deed. We have been called to be missionaries…missionaries of peace and life. May God grant us the strength, the courage, the conviction, the zeal, the ability…but most importantly, the love to fulfil our calling.
Shall we pray?
© Johannes W H van der Bijl 2025.
