Jesus said, “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” John 21:17-19
Theme for the Day: Allegiance to Jesus and his Truth
David Watson, a clergyman in the Church of England, criticized contemporary Christianity in the West: Christians in the West have largely neglected what it means to be a disciple of Christ. The vast majority of the western Christians are church-members, pew-fillers, hymn-singers, sermon-tasters, Bible-readers, even born-again believers, or Spirit-filled charismatics, but not true disciples of Jesus. He continues, If we were willing to learn the meaning of true discipleship and actually to become disciples, the church in the West would be transformed, and the resultant impact on society would be staggering. This is no idle claim. It happened in the first century.
First century Christians were not Consumer Christians. Instead, they were women and men from every background in the ancient world who had an exclusive allegiance to Jesus. Their desire was to eliminate all other objects of worship other than God who had revealed his truth in Jesus. Their method was conversion through the preaching of the gospel. Unlike other preachers of the day, these disciples had a strong conviction of the truth they preached. Their preaching touched even the most hostile listeners. Their preaching touched the conscience of their audiences as the Holy Spirit changed people’s hearts. Minds were illuminated with the truth of God and unruly wills were brought under the lordship of Jesus. This led to changed lives of changed behavior. The newly converted wanted to be in Christian company to learn and to grow, first on milk and then solid food. After a time of growth, they became increasingly bold and began to help make new disciples themselves.
How can we learn from them? First, these early Christians show us that amazing things happen under obedience to Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Second, their ministry established a pattern for us to follow and modify to fit our own day. If we do want to see the same sort of effectiveness of first century Christianity again in our day and in our church, we need to know and study the writings of the New Testament, beginning with Acts and Romans going through Hebrews and Revelation.
What we find is this: first and foremost, disciples concentrate on the person of Jesus. They speak of him fulfilling the promises of God. He is the ideal who is no longer beyond us but is present. He was accredited by God through mighty works and wonders and signs. He is both God and man, and he was crucified for our sins. Through his crucifixion we are offered forgiveness of sin. This is confirmed by his resurrection and his ascension to heaven from where he reigns as our contemporary. Disciples witness to this truth.
Most religions tell you what you must do, but the Christian witness is that something has already happened for us. Peter preached that the only thing one must do in response to this witness is to repent and be baptized: Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:37-41).
Peter preached this sermon on Pentecost, the day Jesus poured out his Spirit on his first disciples, and this outpouring has been happening ever since. The Spirit makes Jesus real even though we no longer see him. The Spirit changes us into his likeness and equips us to serve in his name and proclaim the good news. This is God’s pure gift to everyone God calls to himself.
Evangelist Michael Green ponders if we followers understand and present the gospel as gift: I wonder if most people today outside the church today see Christianity as pure gift? Do they not have the image of the church that is always appealing for money? Do they not see Christianity as a threat to their joys rather than the fulfillment of their identity? Do they not see it as a dreary attempt to be good rather than a dynamic experience of the love and power of Jesus? Have they any idea that God is willing to justify the utterly undeserving? Do they realize that it is not a question of grim duty but of generous gift? I doubt it. And to the extent that they fail to see this (whether they respond to it or not), we Christians show ourselves to be false witnesses to Christ’s good news.
Self-examination, repentance, prayer, and worship:
Before you pray, take some time to reflect on your sins. Perhaps there is one in particular about which you are concerned. Tell the Lord you are sorry, ask him to help you stop this sin, and then pray a prayer like the following:
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Spend further time in prayer and worship before studying the Gospel of John below.
Study: John 11:1-16, The Death of Lazarus
1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 4But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." 8The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" 9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." 11After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him." 12The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." 13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died, 15and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 16So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
Reflection Questions:
1) Because Jesus loves Lazarus, he stays away from him two days longer. What kind of love is Jesus showing his friend?
2) Thomas is best known for doubting, but here he shows great courage and devotion by wanting to go with Jesus to Judea, risking his own life. Yet in the Garden of Gethsemane Thomas is one of the disciples that fled. Why is being a disciple of Jesus so difficult?
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