Vision, for me, is what the mission looks like when it is complete; (Jesus On Leadership) and, the Scriptures provide a picture of Jesus' completed mission in The Revelation of John, Chapter 7 (verses 9 and 10):
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
Jesus lived, died, and was raised from the dead in order to realize the mission God initiated in the Garden of Eden: to rescue all people and creation from its fallen condition and potential everlasting separation from the Creator. And, yes, no matter how bad things seems today, God is still sending a people to be the rescue mission of Jesus to all nations, tribes, and tongues. That people is the Church.
This past Palm Sunday as Legacy Church, June Zheng, our Director of Literacy Missions, led us to show the story of Jesus in nine different languages to over 250 internationals. As I walked from room to room and heard the story of Jesus in languages that I did not know, I watched how those whose heart language came from the speakers viewed the life of Jesus with interest. I prayed the Holy Spirit would translate the eternal, timeless, trans-cultural person of Jesus into their hearts.
As I drove home that afternoon, I knew I had heard and seen a glimpse of God's Revelation 7 vision. May this week be your Palm Sunday Project by demonstrating Jesus to all you encounter. Maybe you, too, will see a glimpse of the vision God has for all who trust His Son.