At this time of year our thoughts dwell on the resurrection
of Jesus. The cry echoes that Jesus is
no longer in the tomb, but he has risen.
The gospels give us accounts of women and men encountering the risen
Jesus and sharing in conversations with him.
We are told of meals of bread and fish that he shares with his
disciples. The early church believed
that Jesus had returned to life. Their
belief was not that Jesus was still dead and that they saw only some spiritual,
ghostly apparition. Nor did they believe
that Jesus had only passed out and appeared dead, and now had woken up. The testimony of the gospels is that Jesus
who was dead has now come back to life.
The result of this amazing historical event causes the eye
witnesses to run and tell others. The
gospels record Jesus giving instructions to his disciples to go and tell others
“don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers
that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there” (Matt 28:10). They also record disciples telling each
other, “Mary Magdalene left and announced
to the disciples, ‘I’ve seen the Lord.’ Then she told them what he said to her”
(John 20:18). Whilst the resurrection of
Jesus is an amazing occurrence, the reality and meaning of it need to be
communicated.
The first disciples set that pattern of behaviour for us
latter disciples. Having had an
encounter with the risen Christ, through believing rather than seeing, we are
then sent out to lead others into an encounter with the risen Christ. This pattern, of disciples making disciples,
completes the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ.
At the beginning of the gospels he calls people to follow
him. They follow and are taught about
new life in Jesus. As they follow they
grow in their understanding of Jesus as lord and master and commit themselves
to him. They are empowered and equipped
for ministry and are sent out in the name and the authority of Jesus
Christ. The good news of the
transformation that Jesus makes in this world is too good to be kept to
ourselves. It is news of joy and peace,
comfort and courage. It is news that
transforms our present reality and gives us hope for the future that is yet to
come.
As growing disciples who Exalt, Explore, Embody, Engage we
commit ourselves to a journey of life in which we call others to discipleship
in Jesus Christ. To accept Jesus as lord
and saviour means that we surrender our whole life to him, not just those parts
that we find easy or comfortable, for many of us telling others about Jesus
fits into the harder parts of growing as a disciple. But it is only as we surrender our lives to
Jesus that we really start to experience the full wonder of our resurrection
faith.
Who is your Brian (your pre-Christian friend who you are
deliberately engaging with, seeking to draw them deeper into a life of
faith)? Are you constantly praying for
them? What is the next step that you
need to take in sharing your faith with them?
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