This week we are taking a look at Jesus’ mission which was founded on his experience of God that led him to address God as Abba – uncontrolling, unconditionally loving “Daddy”. For many Christians, the mission is simply tell people about Jesus’ death as atonement for sins so that we can get forgiven and eventually be welcomed in heaven. I believe that grace is central to why Jesus called God Abba. And I am confident that there is more to Life than flesh and blood, something we will one day experience. But does this match what Jesus spent most of his time doing? Was this really his mission? I submit that it was not. How do we know what Jesus was about? We examine his teachings, his lifestyle, and also what his closest disciples did after Jesus left. The Lord’s Prayer provides major clues as well. Let’s take a look.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. OUR Abba – all humanity’s nurturing, supportive, present, attentive, compassionate, graceful, unconditionally loving, generous, wise, strong, guiding, shaping Creator and sustainer. We humbly recognize that while you are with us and in us, you are greater than us in every way. You are the source of life, and the definition of love. To minimize who You are would be a great error of arrogance. Biblical narrative: Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55 NLT). Not only does Mary acknowledge who has called her to her role with Jesus, she also declares that God’s Way is sometimes in direct contrast to the way human beings choose. The beneficiaries of what God is about to do are the poor – they will benefit because the rulers and the rich will be held to account. The disciples continued to reverse things, welcoming any and all to the fold, all in response to the expansiveness of God.
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You deeply love all creation – all people, all creatures, and the planet we call home – and want it all to thrive harmoniously as a commonwealth. When we do your will toward that end, your dream for us – which is our deepest dream – begins to realize. Biblical narrative: Sending of the 72 (Luke 10:1-23 NLT). In this passage, a larger group of Jesus followers were sent with authority into neighboring villages to do what Jesus had been doing. When their work was welcomed, the Divine Commonwealth was experienced. Where is wasn’t, it wasn’t. We work cooperatively with God – we who are agents of Good News as well as those who are recipients of the news. To say this line of the prayer is to recognize our role in the process – this is not a “God, fix everything without any effort on my part.” To pray this line is to agree to do the will of God to make the world a better place for everyone, and to protect the world itself as a good steward should. The disciples created new communities where they could learn together and model the Divine Commonwealth wherever they were. They knew it was up to them to spread the word.
Give us this day our daily bread. We look beyond our own plates and long for the day when global hunger is a distant memory – a milestone that your will has been done. We also recognize that we live one day at a time – daily opportunities to give thanks for the bread, to break bread together, and to share our bread with others. Biblical narrative: Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:12-17 NLT). When God’s will is done on earth, everyone is fed because everyone shares what they have with others. The disciples followed suit, welcoming any and all to the communion table – a literal meal that welcomed the poorest among them.
Forgive us our debts/sins/trespasses as we forgive our debtors/those who have sinned/trespassed against us. Beyond personal sin, forgive us as humanity for failing to love each other and our home as you have loved us all. May we be generous with grace toward others, seeking redemption so that we may move forward toward good for all. Biblical narrative: Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10 NLT). Indebtedness has always been detrimental to the poor, who were often exploited by those in power who controlled wealth. Zach’s repayment was the evidence of a deeper, realized salvation for those he cheated – so much more than forgiveness of sins, and deeply, practically, relevant to him and those who benefitted. The new communities founded by the disciples were known for sharing everything they had with each other to make sure nobody went without. The generosity exhibited relieved significant burden for some who were enslaved to debt that was likely out of their control.
Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil. Preserve us through time of troubles which will come as we follow your lead – sometimes because we follow your lead! Help us get through it by being with us, strengthening us for the journey. Biblical narrative: Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46 NLT). Jesus’ prayer was one of honesty and submission. He didn’t want to suffer if it could be avoided – there may have been very real temptation to alter his course. Yet he also didn’t want to perpetuate the evil that he came to address – a violent revolt would be expected. Instead, he chose his nonviolent response, which we’re still talking about today. To follow Jesus means to do so even – and especially – when it is difficult – trusting the Way to be sourced and supported by the love of God. The disciples knew that to continue Jesus’ mission might also lead to hardship, and perhaps death. Yet they were sustained by God, evidenced by their singing even while in chains.
Jewish people were exhausted by Rome’s rule and wanted them out. There were no shortage of self-identified messiahs willing to lead a revolt. Whenever they did, they were generally killed. Jesus came with a different message about the character and nature of God, and with it, a different, nonviolent approach to addressing the religious and political systems of power that were abusing them. Jesus was pleading for Jewish people not to revolt. Yet they did. They were squashed like bugs and Jews were scattered abroad. In this sense, Jesus failed in his mission because people chose violence over nonviolence.
Jesus was successful, however, because his core followers continued to meet together, developing what Jesus taught in community. These People of the Way were known for being graceful, welcoming, generous people. They were living out the Divine Commonwealth while living in their respective parts of the world. This is our continued calling today – to choose to be together, developing the Divine Commonwealth among us, and inviting others to join us. This is the ongoing mission of Jesus working out in our midst today.