Being Missional 01: Jesus, the First Missionary in Christian History

BY REV DR FOREST KOH

Missional God, missional disciple, and missional church.

I have written and talked quite a bit about these ideas. If you remember, I wrote about this in June. I shared in the SAFE Batam mission retreat first, and then in our Church planning day, Sunday School Conference, and CG leader’s retreat.

I hope the term "missional" won't be misconstrued. Being missional extends beyond sending mission teams abroad; it involves integrating the missional concept into our Christian lives. Over time, we come to recognize that being missional is ingrained in our DNA, mirroring our Creator-God's nature. After all, He sent Jesus from heaven with a mission to save us. Our God is a missional God.

In the month of December, as we share the nativity story, and delve deeper into Jesus’s story, it becomes evident that He wasn't just a teacher, healer, or prophet; He was, in essence, the first missionary in Christian history. The traditional image of a missionary often involves someone leaving their homeland to spread the message of God in foreign lands. However, Jesus' mission unfolded in a unique and revolutionary way.

Jesus declared His mission clearly in Luke 19:10, stating that He came to seek and save the lost. His focus was on those who were spiritually adrift, those who needed to hear the message of God's love and redemption. His approach wasn't confined to a specific geographic location; rather, it embraced the hearts and lives of people.

A distinctive aspect of Jesus' mission was His ability to connect with people across various cultural contexts. Whether interacting with Samaritans, tax collectors, prostitutes or Pharisees, Jesus transcended cultural barriers. He used parables and metaphors that resonated with the daily lives of the people, making the divine message accessible and relatable.

Jesus didn't just preach about the Kingdom of God; He demonstrated it through His actions. Miracles, healings, and acts of compassion were integral to His mission. These weren't merely displays of power; they were tangible expressions of God's love and the transformative nature of His Kingdom.

The ultimate expression of Jesus' missionary heart was His sacrifice on the cross. He came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45, our key verse for 2024). His mission wasn’t merely about imparting knowledge; it was about redemption and reconciliation.

Jesus was not only a missionary Himself but also the Sender of missionaries. In Matthew 28:19-20, He instructs His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. This marks the inception of the organized and intentional spread of the Gospel beyond the immediate followers of Jesus.

In this Christmas, as we reflect on Jesus as the first missionary, may we be compelled to examine our own understanding of mission. His approach challenges us to move beyond geographical and psychological boundaries, to engage with diverse cultures and people authentically, and to demonstrate God's love through both word and deed in our daily lives.

As followers of Christ, we are not just recipients of His mission; we are His missional disciple, called to continue His story as one missional church in His redemptive work.

As His missional disciple, how are you continuing His missional story?

[To be continued.]