Christ is Sending You (Sunday, July 20, 2025)

John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Christ is Sending You (2025 Commissioning Service)

8:26

Introduction

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

These are some of the most important words Jesus ever spoke to His disciples. They are also words that apply directly to us this morning as we commission our youth and adult leaders for a week of summer mission in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

They are not going as tourists, nor merely as volunteers, nor simply as kind-hearted teenagers. They are going as those sent by Jesus Christ, joining in the very mission of Jesus Christ Himself.

But what does that mean?

We live in a world full of service projects and humanitarian efforts. And thank God for them. Many repair homes, clean up neighborhoods, serve meals, and care for those in need. And these are all good things.

However, Christian mission—Christ-centered and gospel-driven—is not just about doing good. It is about being sent, bearing witness to Jesus, and participating in God’s redemptive work in the world.

So today, let me ask and answer this question:

What does it mean that Christ is sending you?

1) Being sent by Christ means Mission Is a Priority, Even When We Are Afraid

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” (v. 19)

The disciples were terrified. The doors were locked. They feared for their lives. And it’s in that moment—not after things settle down—that Jesus comes and sends them.

Mission isn’t reserved for the strong, the brave, or the spiritually elite. It’s something Jesus gives to fearful, uncertain disciples—because the authority and peace don’t come from them. They come from Him.

He enters into their fear and says, “Peace be with you.” Then he sends them.

Mission is not a side project of the Christian life—it is central to it. From the very first day of the resurrection, Jesus called and commissioned His people to go. But before He sends, He reveals something essential—the marks of His suffering and victory.

2) Mission Begins with Seeing the Wounds of Christ

“When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (v. 20)

“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’” (v. 21)

Before Jesus sends them, He shows them His wounds.

Seeing the price that Christ paid is not optional. It is central.

The wounds of Christ are the foundation of Christian mission. Until we’ve seen and worshiped the risen Christ—and the price He paid—all of our service, all of our generosity, even all of our compassion, remain incomplete.

There’s nothing wrong with humanitarian aid or social services. They are good and necessary. But Christian mission is different. It flows from a personal encounter with the crucified and risen Christ.

We don’t just go to do good. We go because we’ve seen the Lord. We’ve seen His hands. We’ve seen His side. We’ve seen the cost. And because of Christ's love for us and our love for Christ, we now go in His name.

3) Mission Makes Heaven’s Reality Visible on Earth

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’” (vv. 22–23)

Jesus breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

It’s an echo of Genesis 2, when God breathed life into Adam. Now the new Adam breathes the Spirit into His new creation—His church.

This is not just a project—it’s a preview of heaven breaking into the ordinary. When our youth paint a wall or build a ramp, when they knock on doors and listen to stories, they bring with them the breath of heaven.

And what’s the ultimate message they carry? Forgiveness. Grace. Reconciliation. The Spirit of God is already at work in Altoona, preparing hearts to receive the love and presence of Christ.

We don’t just fix homes—we point to the eternal home we have in Christ. We don’t just serve neighbors—we invite them to be part of the family of God. We don’t just carry tools—we carry the Holy Spirit. We carry the Spirit not just in our words, but in how we work, how we listen, how we love.

Conclusion: We Are a Sent People

So, what does it mean that Jesus Christ is sending you?

It means you're answering a call that is urgent, personal, and rooted in the very heart of God. It means you're stepping into His peace, formed by His wounds, and empowered by His Spirit. It means your mission is to know Christ and make Him known.

And for the rest of us, this commissioning is not just for a few. It’s a reminder for us all.

Let us ask, "Where is Christ sending me this week?"

Every Christian is a disciple. Every Christian is called. Every Christian is sent.

Our mission is to glorify God by making the Kingdom of God visible through every act of faithfulness, every word of witness, every work of love. Each one of us is a living signpost pointing to King Jesus and the reality of His Kingdom.

May God be with you, this day, unto the Day of the Lord Jesus, and forever more. Amen.