I mentioned a few weeks ago an excellent book by Dr. Francis DuBose titled ”God Who Sends: A Fresh Quest for Biblical Mission.” The book was published in 1983 when Dr. DuBose was professor and director of World Missions Center at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.

In the preface of the book DuBose writes:

“This work is a comprehensive and systematic study of the biblical concept of the sending aimed at a better understanding of biblical mission. . . . The title “God Who Sends” was chosen because God as Sender is the basis of all the Bible has to say on the subject. The subtitle, “A Fresh Quest for Biblical Mission,” reflects both my desire for a more satisfying theological understanding and my realization that this can only be a quest, not a final word on the subject.”

In chapter 3 DuBose presents a survey of the theological sending passages within 7 Scriptural categories: the Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Poetical Books, the Prophets, the Gospels, the Book of Acts, and the Epistles and Revelation. So far we have discussed the first four categories; today we will examine the sending theme found in the Gospels.

As the Old Testament closes with the promise of the special messenger whom God will send as a forerunner of the Messiah (Mal. 3:1; 4:5), the New Testament begins with the announcement of the forerunner of Jesus the Messiah, John the Baptist, a man sent from God (Matt. 11:10-15; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 7:18-28; John 1:6-8).

DuBose writes:

Of the some sixty references in John, almost all are theological, and some forty-four refer to the title of God as “one who sends” and of Christ as “one who is sent.” It cannot be overemphasized how deeply the sending concept relates to Jesus’ identity. Almost every page of the Fourth Gospel breathes with a passage in which Jesus expressed who he is in terms of his sense of being sent, his sense of mission. He came not to do his will but the will of the Father who sent him (4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40). He came not to speak his words but the words of the Father who sent him (7:16-18; 8:26-29; 12:49; 14:24; 17:8). He came not to do his own work but the work of the Father who sent him (4:34; 5:36; 9:4). Jesus acknowledged that his very life rested with the Father who had sent him (4:34; 6:57). The sending in John speaks to the very heart of the gospel. “For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (3:17). Finally in John are the significant references concerning the sending of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of the Father sending the Holy Spirit in his name (14:26) and of his sending the Spirit from the Father (15:26).

Although to a much lesser degree than the Gospel of John, the Synoptics record Jesus’ sense of being sent as well (Matt. 15:24; Mark 9:37; Luke 4:18; 4:43; 9:48; 10:16). The Synoptic Gospels also speak of the special missions on which Jesus sent the 12 and the 70 (Matt. 10:5; Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1).

How important is it for the church to recognize the sending theme in the Gospels? How might our mode of ministry be affected by recapturing the sense of being sent?

I find it extremely helpful in recognizing that we are not merely the called people of God, but we are the called and sent people of God. The Father and the Son have sent us (individually and collectively) into the world, empowered by the Spirit, to participate in the Kingdom. However, will we allow the profound sense of being sent be at the center of our Christian lives?