John 13:20

Jesus had first given His disciples the shockingly bad news – one of their own would lift up his heel against Him. Then, in His very next breath, He solemnly states this very encouraging Word both to them and to all who would go out in the future in His service: “Whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me”. He had previously told them that they were to humble and abase themselves and now He states that honor will come to them as His ambassadors – there may be those that will despise them because of their humility but there will also be those that will honor them because of their dignified commission by Christ. The Father had commissioned Him and our Lord had commissioned His disciples. Interestingly, Jesus gave this commission to all yet regrettably not all accept it. We find in Matthew:

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)

“Christ has told us He will come, but not when, that we might never put off our clothes, or put out the candle.” William Gurnall

Our Lord has the official right or power to commission His followers to go forth - witnessing and making disciples by baptizing and teaching. This authority had been given to Him by the Father. Jesus’ disciples - both then and now – were and are to proclaim the Truth regarding our Lord Jesus to all neighborhoods and nations, making disciples of them and teaching them obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit. The behavior of our lives should reflect a constant witness using our words when necessary! Unfortunately, oftentimes we disparage our witness by espousing Truth yet living vastly differently. We bring shame upon our Lord’s great Name through our poor behavior. This should not be.

“A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.” D.L. Moody

As believers, we are His ambassadors – both a high calling and a high privilege. We carry around in our jars of clay a great treasure of which every living soul is in desperate need of. Paul tells us:

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor 4:7 (NIV)

“We have the truth, and we need not be afraid to say so.” John Charles Ryle

Paul also gives the correct point of view for which all believers – ambassadors - of Christ should subscribe in his wonderful description of the ministry of reconciliation found in 2 Corinthians. Compelled by the sacrifice and love of sweet Jesus, Paul, believed everyone in the faith should respond by living selflessly and by being Christ’s ambassador. As followers of the Lord Jesus, this is our high calling; we are to be God’s representatives of reconciliation to a needy world.

“The end of learning is to know God, and out of that knowledge to love Him and imitate Him.” John Milton

11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 5:11-6:2 (NIV)

“I have now heard the strains of grace, and I grieve for my friends who have not”. Philip Yancey