From Of First Importance:
Missions is about the worship of Jesus. The goal of missions is the global worship of Jesus by his redeemed people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. The outcome of missions is all peoples delighting to praise Jesus. And the motivation for missions is the enjoyment that his people have in him. Missions aims at, brings about, and is fueled by the worship of Jesus.
— David Mathis "Missions: the Worship of Jesus and the Joy of All Peoples" in Don't Call It a Comeback
(Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2011), 225
4 comments:
But did Jesus say 'worship me' or worship God?
'Stop clinging to me; for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren (disciples), and say to them, 'I ascend to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.' (John 20: 17).'
Jesus taught us to pray to our Father in heaven, not to him.
Paul, once again (you haven't answered the question I directed at you on Muhammad being Muslims' mediator) you don't care about the context. Have you read verse 17 of John Chapter 20 in context? Here is the context verses 16-29:
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “DO NOT CLING TO ME, FOR I HAVE NOT YET ASCENDED TO MY FATHER; BUT GO TO MY BRETHREN AND SAY TO THEM, ‘I AM ASCENDING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, AND TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD.’” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. IF YOU FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM; IF YOU RETAIN THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE RETAINED.” Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “REACH YOUR FINGER HERE, AND LOOK AT MY HANDS; AND REACH YOUR HAND HERE, AND PUT IT INTO MY SIDE. DO NOT BE UNBELIEVING, BUT BELIEVING.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “MY LORD AND MY GOD!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Great word, thanks for sharing. Reminds me what I read this morning from John Stott:
"Here lies the supreme missionary motivation. It is neither obedience to the Great Commission, nor compassion for the lost, nor excitement over the gospel, but zeal (even “jealousy”) for the honour of Christ’s name . . . no incentive is stronger than the longing that Christ should be given the honour that is due to His Name."
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