By Doug Redford
In today’s often overly busy culture, we use the term multitasking to describe working on more than one task at the same time, while being able to get all the tasks accomplished. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, multitasking was first used in 1966. The Merriam-Webster website asked the question (for anyone who wanted to reply), “Why did you want to know the meaning of this word? Why did you look it up?” One man did reply, and this is what he said:
“So I could prove that the term [multitasking] only means the ability to waste time in several areas at once, while actually completing NOTHING! I would never hire anyone who tells me they are a good multitasker! That just tells me they’re a great time waster who will get nothing done for me!”
Jesus could be considered a master at multitasking. For example, in John 10 he described himself as both the gate for the sheep and the shepherd for the sheep (vv. 7, 11). John the Baptist called Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). In Revelation 5, Jesus appears as both a Lion and a Lamb (vv. 5, 6). And in the concluding chapter of the book, Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). That could count as major multitasking, and it makes for a very impressive resume! It could never be said of Jesus that he wasted time and accomplished nothing in his multitasking; in fact, when he prayed to his Father in John 17:4 he said, “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”
When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper with his disciples, he said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). There is much to remember about Jesus as we reflect upon the variety of tasks and titles given to him in Scripture and that he himself used to describe the work he faithfully accomplished. And we should remember the multitasking we his followers are given as salt (Matthew 5:13), light (Matthew 5:14), servants (Galatians 5:13), ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), and foreigners and exiles (1 Peter 2:11), to name a few. May we, like Jesus, finish the work the Father has given us to do.
Doug Redford has served in the preaching ministry, as an editor of adult Sunday school curriculum, and as a Bible college professor. Now retired, he continues to write and speak as opportunities arise.
Author: Doug Redford
Doug Redford has served in the preaching ministry, as an editor of adult Sunday school curriculum, and as a Bible college professor. Now retired, he continues to write and speak as opportunities arise.
