(P)There...
Illustration
(P)
There are two kinds of messengers in this brief passage. There were those who were worrying about what had happened to Jesus' body and were hiring the soldiers to spread the rumor that his disciples had stolen his body. They had their own reasons for doing this but those who doubt the truth find it necessary to explain it away. Then there were eleven disciples who went to Galilee and met Jesus and were told "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ..." Christianity is not a static religion. We should find it interesting that, without intensive research, we cannot find the names of the priests involved and certainly none of the soldiers has found a niche in history. Yet there are multitudes of persons remembered with gratitude for the part they played in "going" and "telling" the wondrous gospel of Christ. If we need proof that he rose from the dead, consider the fact that he is with us "to the close of the age" empowering us to go forth with his gospel.
Like Wesley, we preach faith until we have it to overcome any doubts we may have about our own salvation or about our calling to be one of his messengers. In my experience, one event stands out. I was wrestling with some doubts along this very line but determined to preach the gospel as well and fervently as I knew how. I agonized over a message for a Sunday morning. Today I cannot recall that message, but imprinted in my memory is the young woman who shook my hand after the service and said: "Reverend, I found God as you preached this morning." Jesus lives and empowers us for witnessing.
- Fegan
There are two kinds of messengers in this brief passage. There were those who were worrying about what had happened to Jesus' body and were hiring the soldiers to spread the rumor that his disciples had stolen his body. They had their own reasons for doing this but those who doubt the truth find it necessary to explain it away. Then there were eleven disciples who went to Galilee and met Jesus and were told "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations ..." Christianity is not a static religion. We should find it interesting that, without intensive research, we cannot find the names of the priests involved and certainly none of the soldiers has found a niche in history. Yet there are multitudes of persons remembered with gratitude for the part they played in "going" and "telling" the wondrous gospel of Christ. If we need proof that he rose from the dead, consider the fact that he is with us "to the close of the age" empowering us to go forth with his gospel.
Like Wesley, we preach faith until we have it to overcome any doubts we may have about our own salvation or about our calling to be one of his messengers. In my experience, one event stands out. I was wrestling with some doubts along this very line but determined to preach the gospel as well and fervently as I knew how. I agonized over a message for a Sunday morning. Today I cannot recall that message, but imprinted in my memory is the young woman who shook my hand after the service and said: "Reverend, I found God as you preached this morning." Jesus lives and empowers us for witnessing.
- Fegan
