Ecce Homo and missions!

Easter is a wonderful opportunity for us to contemplate and more fully enter into what Jesus really did for us through his sacrificial death and resurrection. A deeper understanding will lead to greater appreciation and thankfulness and can lead to a fuller spiritual life. 

But it can also help us to see that this is not only for us - this is for a whole world out there.

"He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world"! 

1 John 2:2

The young Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760) was sent on the grand tour, a tour through Europe to see its courts, universities, museums and other things that would promote a good education and preparation for a life and the duties of a noble man.

Count Zinzendorf

Ecce Homo

In an art gallery in Dusseldorf he is captivated by a Domenico Feti's "Ecce Homo", (Behold the Man). The text on the frame captivated him - This I have done for you. What have you done for Me? Zinzendorf, already a committed Christian vows "I will do more!" 

He came to deeply appreciate Jesus sacrifice. A meeting with the passion (suffering) of Jesus turned into a passion to serve Him - “These wounds were meant to purchase me. These drops of blood were shed to obtain me. I am not my own today. I belong to another. I have been bought with a price. And I will live every moment of this day so that the Great Purchaser of my soul will receive the full reward of His suffering.” 

He later becomes a pioneer in missions, was part of igniting the first major protestant mission's movement, where they do more in missions in 20 years than the entire Protestant church had done for 200. 

"I have but one passion - it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ." -

With Christ, To the Ends of the World!

Christian