What Jesus Really Said: The Meaning of Jesus' Teachings in John: "As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." (John 17:18)

Who sent Jesus 'into the world'?

In this part of Jesus' open prayer to the Supreme Being, Jesus is rectifying misinformation about himself that has been spread amongst sectarian institutions for the past 1,700 years.

Those mistruths relate to just who Jesus is and what his mission was.

Jesus is praying to God here ("Father"). Jesus is clearly stating that the Supreme Being "sent" him "into the world." How much clearer can this be?

This clear statement means clearly that Jesus is God's messenger. God's representative. Someone who is sent by another is subservient to the one who sent them. They have been sent by someone superior to them.

This also means that Jesus is stating that he is God's loving servant.

Who is the "mother of God"?

Some have taught that since Jesus is God and Mary is Jesus' mother, then Mary must be the "mother of God." Could this be true?

Let's consider this carefully.

If we accept that God is the Creator of all things and all beings - then how could God have a mother? If we accept that God has a mother, then that negates the role of God. A person who has a mother cannot also be God - since God created everyone and everything.

Furthermore, the very term "mother of God" is a contradiction. This would mean that the mother is actually God - not the person being called God.

Therefore, the very statement, "mother of God" is an atheistic statement. It negates the existence of God.

In reality, Mary was only the mother of Jesus' physical body. That physical body of Jesus was killed on the Cross. But the person of Jesus - the spirit-person - lived on after the death of his physical body. Yes, Jesus may have re-appeared again after this, but they did not recognize him, because he had risen in an angel-like apparition.

Are they ignoring the true God?

When these institutions say that Jesus is God and Mary is the mother of God they are ignoring the Supreme Being - who is God. This is the Person that Jesus came to teach us about and teach us how to love. Why are they ignoring Him?

They are ignoring the very Supreme Person who sent Jesus, and the very Supreme Person Jesus was trying to get us to love and serve!

Just consider these other statements illustrating Jesus' being sent by God:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free..." (Luke 4:18)

"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken." (John 12:49)

"And the Father who sent me has Himself testified concerning me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form..." (John 5:37)

"My teaching is not my own. It comes from the One who sent me." (John 7:16)

"I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the One who sent me." (John 7:33)

"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken." (John 12:49)

"These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." (John 14:24)

Jesus also clarified his role as God's loving servant very clearly:

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work." (John 4:34)

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." (John 5:30)

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:39)

"As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me." (John 9:4)

These statements all confirm Jesus' role and his mission. And his teachings were clear:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)

We can thus establish with clarity that Jesus was sent by the Supreme Being, was the servant of the Supreme Being, and was teaching what the Supreme Being wanted him to teach.

And since Jesus taught love of God, we can know that the Supreme Being wants us to return to Him. God wants us to return to our loving relationship with Him. God wants us to love Him and re-kindle our love for Him.

Why did God send Jesus?

Because the Supreme Being loves us and wants us to be happy. He knows that this is the only way we will be happy.

Each of us is empty inside without our innate loving relationship with the Supreme Being. Each of us wanders the earth in search of happiness.

We seek happiness in sensual pleasures. We seek happiness in girlfriends and boyfriends - and eventually spouses. We seek happiness by becoming famous. We seek happiness by having big families with lots of children and grandchildren. We seek happiness by becoming wealthy. We seek happiness by receiving the approval of others.

Yet as we can easily observe by looking inside ourselves - and by observing those around us who have those things we think will make us happy - that these things do not bring happiness.

We are still empty inside, regardless of how many adoring fans we have, and how much wealth we have, and how many children and grandchildren we have, and how many girlfriends or boyfriends we have, and how beautiful our wife or husband is, and how big our house is, and how cool our car is, and how many people applaud us.

None of these things fulfill us because we are not physical. We are spiritual beings, and this "world" is not our home. It is a temporary place for those of us who rejected our relationship with God.

But as Jesus clearly teaches, God wants us back. He wants us to come home now. For those who are ready to come home - who are exhausted with chasing futile desires, and tired of the emptiness and loneliness of the physical world - He is calling us. And this is why He sent Jesus. To call us home to Him.

How did Jesus send 'them into the world'?

Jesus not only gave his followers clear instructions to love God. He also gave his followers clear instructions to teach others. He sent 72 disciples (Luke 10:1) out to teach in the various villages and towns, for example. He told them to pass on the instructions, such as:
"As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’" (Matthew 10:7)

This is the same message that Jesus taught:
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17)
And it is the same message that John the Baptist preached:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." (Matthew 3:1-2)

Yes, the Supreme Being is nearby. He is with each of us. We can turn to Him at any time and be with Him. We can praise Him and learn to love Him.

Jesus also gave his followers clear instructions on how to reach out to God and reconnect with Him: He taught them to pray to Him. To make offerings to Him. To praise Him. Jesus even told his students how to pray:

“When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be Your Name...." (Luke 11:2)

Jesus was also clear that returning to our relationship with God means learning to please God:

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)