As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
John 17:18-19
The fourth dimension of your holiness is that you are sent to the world. When Jesus says, “I consecrate [that is, sanctify] myself,” He is not talking about a gradual growth in holiness. He is the Holy One. He fulfilled everything that the Father called Him to do, so Jesus is talking about giving Himself to a special calling—in this case, the cross.
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we have the story of how Jesus wrestled over the agony of the cross. “If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” But in the end, He gave Himself to it. “Not as I will, but as you will” (Mat. 26:39).
This is John’s Gethsemane: Jesus says, “I consecrate myself” (John 17:19). He is saying, “I give myself to the work that the Father has given me to do.”
Jesus calls us to do the same thing. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). When Christ sees a secondary school in need, what does He do? He sends you. When Christ sees the business world in chaos, what does He do? He sends you. When Christ sees someone who is cold and hungry, what does He do? He sends you.
He doesn’t send all of us to every place, but He does send each of us to some place. He does not make us all responsible for every need, but He does make us all responsible for some need. As He gives Himself to His work, He is praying that we will give ourselves to our work.
You are sent. That’s why it is so critical that you should be who you are.
What has Christ sent you to do? Are you ready to follow Christ’s example and consecrate yourself to that calling?
