Who Are Your Sheep?

John 14:12-13 The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. (Message Translation)

This is bold! I mean this is Jesus talking, telling his disciples that they (we) will do great works, just as he has done during his time on earth. And this comes after he has done things such as giving a blind man the ability to see, and feeding 5,000 from one kid's sack lunch. I think the part that really hit me were his words, "even greater." You see, Jesus knew that he was leaving a world that was still very lost and broken; a world where the majority of people were yet to know the Living God. Even a great deal of those who witnessed Jesus's miracles refused to believe! However, Jesus still had to leave the earth, thus presenting his disciples with a great task. Don't worry though - Jesus had reason for his boldness. He knew that though he had to leave this earth, we would not be left alone. No -- by laying down his life for us, we could receive the Holy Spirit, and therefore never be alone. Now our responsibility is to keep in step with the Spirit and make bold requests of God so that He can work in us - just as He did through Jesus while he was on this earth - and therefore make Himself known.

One part of the book of John that I have loved is that with each of Jesus's miracles the author records, he makes it very clear that Jesus was doing these things for one specific purpose: that people would see and believe in the God that sent him. That should be our purpose in all that we do. That is what Jesus was so boldly calling us to do. I do not think that we need to pray for the ability to turn one lunch into 5,000, but we can pray for the ability and the opportunity to be Jesus to those around us.

Adam's sweet grandmother reminded me that Adam is not the only sheep that needs loving on and tending to - there are so many out there that need a shepard, and Jesus has called us to take on that task in His name.

2 Timothy 1:7 God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. (The Message)