Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20.21)

In the harmony and eternal fellowship of God’s trinity, the Father sent the Son into the world to redeem men, women and children from every tribe and tongue. Jesus, the Son of God, light from light and true God from true God, became flesh and dwelled among us. He lived in the middle of a politically conquered people on the fringe of an empire. He lived in the midst of a spiritually dominated people where the Temple courts for the foreigners were filled like a wholesale barn stall and the synagogues were sated with Pharisaic hedge rules and hypocrisy. Jesus was sent into a world spun out in disorder and still He spoke “Peace.”

Now, Jesus the sent one is sending us. Just as the Father sent the Son, the Son sends us. He knows the temptations we will face for He faced them too. He knows the sorrow and abuse we will witness. He knows the pain and persecution we will experience as His disciples, because He Himself was mocked and abused, tortured and crucified. And still He speaks “Peace be with you.” He sends us as sheep among wolves to seek and save the lost. He breathes into us His Holy Spirit that we might live righteous lives before God and men, growing closer to His presence and draw others with us. Jesus the sender knows in our sent-ness He is calling us closer to Himself, closer to the cross, closer to the grave, closer to everlasting peace.

Jesus, thank you for sending me into the nations. Thank you that as I go out into the world you are bringing me closer to yourself.