Complete the Mission

My son has become a huge Star Wars fan. We’ve watched the movies together. We’ve watched the TV shows, and we’ve watched the different cartoons. Currently, we’re watching a show called “The Bad Batch.” It’s the story of a rag-tag group of clones that are considered defective in the midst of a complete political overturn in the galaxy. The Jedi have become the enemies of the empire, and these soldiers have been tasked with taking them down. Due to their defect, the Bad Batch doesn’t follow through with this task and becomes fugitives of the empire. However, one of them isn’t as gung-ho about becoming a fugitive as the rest of them. His name is Crosshair.

Crosshair wants to be a good soldier. He believes that good soldiers complete their mission, and he doesn’t understand why the rest of their team won’t follow through. This issue eventually leads to him turning on his own team to side with the empire. Now a leader in the military, he is tasked with hunting down the enemies of the government, including his now former team. While his commitment to the mission of the empire may seem noble, it goes against everything he once stood for.

On the flip side, the Bad Batch has a new mission. They now protect the innocent and defend the honor of those who see the evil in the empire. They are so committed to this mission that they are willing to put their lives on the line to complete it. Their marching orders aren’t to give power to the oppressors but to give freedom to the oppressed.  Upon seeing the evil of this new government, they had a change of heart and wanted to follow a better way. We see two different perspectives, but both sides are committed to their missions.

As disciples, we are FOLLOWING Jesus and BEING CHANGED by Jesus. There’s a third part to this, though. When we find ourselves stepping into the footprints of Jesus, we can’t help but be changed into someone more like Jesus. As we become more like Jesus, the next natural step is to take on His MISSION.

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19

As we’ve been saying all week, this is the foundation of what a disciple is. Jesus starts with FOLLOW ME. He follows that up with I WILL MAKE YOU. (Change) Then He tells them they will be FISHERS OF MEN. So what exactly is a fisher of men? What does this have to do with the mission of Jesus? Jesus was actually preparing them for something He would tell them after His resurrection.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:19–20

Jesus’ mission is a simple one: Make Disciples. If following Jesus is a head-level change, and being changed by Jesus is a heart-level change, then being committed to Jesus’ mission is a hands-level change. Our minds have to flip the switch and commit to following someone greater. Our hearts are transformed, and we are then changed by Christ. This puts us to action. Now, we have to step it up and get on task. Our mission is very concise and specific. Make disciples by baptizing them and teaching them. I know you’re thinking, though, “John, I’m not qualified to do that.” Neither were a bunch of fishermen, tax collectors, and other average guys, but Christ empowered every one of them.

These men had spent three years with the Son of God. They learned at His feet and, despite their lower position in society, were transformed into men who would start a movement that would change the world. Their marching orders came just before Christ ascended into Heaven.

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 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.”
Acts 1:7–8

This calling is predicated on the arrival of the Holy Spirit. In other words, this mission is impossible without God’s intercession and involvement. We are not thrown onto an island and expected to just figure it out. The Holy Spirit steps in to guide and empower us to do our mission. This is exactly how the Church was started.

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1–4

The disciples didn’t know what to do after Christ left. They were literally waiting for the Holy Spirit’s arrival, and when the Spirit arrived, the dominoes all began to fall. At Pentecost, Jews from all nations would come to worship in Jerusalem, and people heard about Jesus in their own languages. In a matter of days, thousands came to a saving relationship with Christ and headed back to their home countries to share what they had learned about the Son of God. The mission had finally started. Today, we share in that same mission, and God wants workers.

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Luke 10:2

A mission is worthless without someone to carry it out. Let’s trust in the Holy Spirit as He works in us to accomplish the Great Commission. We are those workers. We are Christ’s disciples. A disciple is someone who is FOLLOWING Jesus, is BEING CHANGED by Jesus, and is COMMITTED TO THE MISSION of Jesus. Let’s complete the mission.