Save One (Stories)
Written by Josiah Plett
Some years ago, DC entertainment released a movie called “Justice League”, in which a group of superheroes teams up to fight off a “big bad” and save the world. Classic superhero stuff. In fact, they’ve just released a remake called “The Snyder Cut”. Maybe you’ve seen it?
I remember one scene that really stuck out to me. In this scene, the heroes are trying to rescue hostages from a group of evil alien minion dudes. The Flash, a nervous youngster with no fighting experience, is overwhelmed and freezes in fear. Then Batman says this:
“Save one.”
When Batman tells him this, Flash bursts into action, running at superhuman speeds to evacuate one of the hostages. After he succeeds, he goes back for another one, and keeps going back until all the hostages are out.
Now, we’re not the Flash, or Batman. However, we do have a mission, and we also need help knowing how to do it. Matthew 28:16-20 is a good place to start:
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This passage, often called the “Great Commission”, reminds us that we good news that Jesus is our King, and as followers of Jesus, we are called to tell others about Him and teach them what it means to follow Jesus too. We can do this through our words and through our actions, speaking truth and serving those around us.
If you’re like me, when you hear Jesus call us to serve others, to make disciples, etc., you might be overwhelmed. It seems like there are so many ways to reach out to your friends, so many ways to help others, so many ways to “be Jesus” to those around you. You might wonder where to start or who to pray for.
When Jesus commissioned his disciples, he didn’t expect any one of them to reach everybody. He expected them to start somewhere. Just like Batman told the Flash to “save one”, I challenge you to look at outreach the same way. Don’t get overwhelmed by the many possibilities or the huge numbers of people who need Jesus. Just pick somewhere, or somehow, to reach out to others, and start there. Even better, pray and ask God to show you where to start. Then, go and do it.