Friday, May 18, 2012
Luke 24:46-48 Then Jesus said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things."
YOU ARE A NECESSARY WITNESS
What is the most famous courtroom case that you can think of? What role did the witnesses play in that case? We know a witness is someone who has, who claims to have, or is thought by someone to have knowledge relevant to an event. Most often we probably think of a witness in the case of a murder.
Jesus was murdered. He was wrongfully crucified because He was innocent of any crime. When Jesus was on trial He questioned His accusers saying, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said" (John 18:20-21). The Apostle Peter wrote of His innocence when he said, "[Jesus] committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth." Jesus' disciples knew, even Pilate the Roman Governor knew, that Jesus was wrongly put to death.
How sad would it be if that was the end of the story, if the "case" were closed? The words above from the Gospel of Luke remind us that Jesus Christ, Son of God, had risen from the dead; that He appeared to His disciples and showed Himself to be alive just as He said. He called them to the courtroom so to speak, to testify and proclaim as His witnesses of God's promise of salvation fulfilled. It was finished. Beginning at Jerusalem the disciples shared that joyous news and divine love of Christ which went out to the ends of the world!
So how important is my witness? By faith, I have "seen" it and am Christ Jesus' needed witness of His "good news" today also! Today I pray, "Lord, let me start with my home and carry Your witness to all!"
