Timothy J. Clarke - The Mission of Jesus

Three things that I bid you good day. First, it’s the mission of Jesus. Come here, come here, come here, look with me at it. Jesus said it Himself, «The Son of Man came to seek and save those who were lost.» Okay, y’all missed it. He did not come to call the righteous, Sharon, but sinners to repentance. They who are well don’t need a physician. Okay, okay, y’all. Y’all, them witches—oh God, can I say it? Y’all won’t get mad, Doug. That may be why some Saints—not y’all—on Saturday night at 8 o’clock act the way they do when they come to church, ’cause they ain’t never been sick. But sick don’t need a doctor, and Jesus says, «I didn’t come for stuck-up Saints who ain’t never been sick. I’m looking for down and out sinners who know they are sick and in need of a Savior because there is a balm in Gilead.»

Okay, I’m through. I’m sure that’s all I got. That’s all I got. It’s the mission of Jesus to seek and save the lost, and I don’t know about y’all, but I’m slap-happy—I promise I am. I’m slap-happy that that’s His mission. I’m happy. Here’s why I’m happy: because it means when I was lost, He came looking for me, and I don’t think there’s a person in this room who is saved and cannot admit that when you were lost, you weren’t looking for Him, but God knows He was looking for you. Come on, can I get a little help right there? That’s why I keep telling y’all to stop talking about how you found Jesus. You didn’t find Jesus because Jesus was never lost. You were lost, and Jesus found you—His mission, His mission. He came to seek and save those who were lost.

Write these three things down; I gotta go. The first thing I notice is that Jesus is clear about His mission. He’s clear about it—there’s no ambiguity, there’s no uncertainty, there’s no lack of clarity. He’s clear about His mission. «I am on assignment; I am on mission to save the lost.» And that brother is lost, and my mission is clear. Not only was Jesus clear about His mission, but, pop, Jesus is committed to His mission. I love that! I wish I had more committed folks in this church. Did I say that just now? I’m sorry, no I’m not. I wish I had more committed people in this church. Okay, I’m waiting for some of y’all to say «Amen.» That’s why I need more committed people, ’cause y’all won’t even say «Amen» when I say I wish I had them. I wish I had more committed folk who wouldn’t get mad and go sit down and strike out. I really wish I had more committed people who were not concerned about getting their names called but were more concerned about getting the job done. I wish I had more committed people who don’t have to be out front but are willing to be behind the scenes, who don’t have to be the star but can be a member of the supporting cast. I wish I had more committed folks who would say, «If you never call my name, that’s all right. All that my hands find to do, I’m gonna do it with all of my might because Jesus remembers when others forget, and He will reward.»

Some more committed folk up in here who say, «Come hell or high water, you can count on me.» Jesus is clear about His mission, Jesus is committed to His mission—here, see under one eye, can y’all see how quick I’m moving this? And see, Jesus completes His mission. Man, He doesn’t die ’til it’s done. And I want to say this—my mercy, I gotta run out of the pulpit—and He doesn’t let folks talking about Him, criticizing Him, or crucifying Him stop Him from completing His mission. «Chap, lean your neighbor and say, ‘I think he’s talking all about you right now.’» ’Cause it’s amazing! His hands are nailed, His feet are nailed, His head has thorns, His side has the wound, but He’s still doing His mission! Even though they are crucifying Him. And I understand some of us that ’cause we ain’t never been crucified. Folks look at us funny, we walk away. I wish to God I had somebody in here who would say, «I’m gonna complete the mission that God has given me. I don’t care what folks do to me.» Would you give a neighbor some sanctified depth and tell them, «Complete your mission»? And stop thinking everybody’s gonna like you, and that everyone’s going to support you, and everybody’s gonna be patting you on the back. You gonna run into some haters, you’re gonna run into some critics, you’re gonna run into some folks who don’t like you. I wish I had help up here! You’re gonna run into folks who will dig ditches for you, but do I have anybody here who can testify that the Lord will lead y’all around it, He’ll be a bridge over it, and He’ll help you get where He wants you to go? It’s the mission of Jesus.

I gotta hurry; it’s not just the mission of Jesus. Come here, come here, look at this with me. It’s the ministry of Jesus. Would you tap the neighbor and say, «Ministering»? Now look back at that same neighbor, smiling, and say, «You do not want the ministry of Jesus.» No, you don’t want it; you don’t want it; you don’t want it. I know you don’t want it. No, the choir doesn’t want it. All that singing they just did, they don’t want it. Uh-uh! Laci doesn’t want it. Where’s Peggy? Is Peggy Evangelist still at? She left? Y’all celebrate Evangelist Peggy! Laci, where’s Laci?