Toward the end of Jesus’ ministry, He looked at His disciples and told them, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is still day; night is coming when no one can work” John 9.4 ESV. What was the work that Jesus was talking about?
Jesus was focused on a greater work
Flash back for a second to the first year in Jesus’ public ministry. He’d just finished a conversation with a Samaritan woman at a well that changed her life and spread throughout her entire community. While Jesus sat by the well, His disciples returned with food. They insisted that He should eat something. He replied, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” John 4.34 ESV. Again, what was the work that Jesus was talking about?
Flash forward for a second to the last night of Jesus’ earthly life. In a prayer to His Father, Jesus says, “I glorified you here on the earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” John 17.4 ESV. The work that Jesus had in mind wasn’t going to the cross. That hadn’t happened yet. But Jesus insisted that He had finished the work that He needed to do. What was that work?
The work of Jesus was making disciples
The work that Jesus was talking about is the work of making disciples who would multiply their lives by making more disciples. This is the work He did, but it’s also the work into which He invites us to join Him. Notice that John 9.4 ESV begins with the word “we.” It’s incredible to think that as we are making disciples, we are actually partnering with Jesus in His work.
You’re never closer to Him than when you’re following His example by investing in others’ lives. There is a supernatural fellowship with Jesus that can only be experienced when you’re doing the work of making disciples.
Nothing is more satisfying than investing in eternity
There is nothing you can do that is more satisfying than making disciples. Think about it. You might end up making more money than you ever thought possible. You may reach the highest level in your field. You might own things and go places that most people can only dream about. But if your life isn’t invested in something that will outlast you and echo into eternity, then it’s all for nothing. Job was right when he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return” Job 1.21 ESV.
Live today with eternity in mind
Imagine the day when you’re standing before Jesus. What do you want to be true of you on that day? Will He say that there was so much more He wanted to do through you to make an eternal impact? Or will He say that your life made a difference because you chose to invest it in the things that matter? You can live today with that day in mind. You can decide today to count for eternity. You can make disciples who will make disciples, and set in motion a process of multiplication that doesn’t stop until Jesus comes again. It’s your choice. Will you do the work?
This blog features an excerpt from one of our Student Series books, Invest In A Few.
