From Paralyzed to Purposeful
When Jesus fills us with peace and joy, He also takes us from paralyzed to purposeful.
The disciples had been sitting around paralyzed by their panic, their heartbrokenness, their uncertainty. But when Jesus appeared, they were healed of that.
In a way, it’s like they were crippled, but Jesus made their legs move! He said: “You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:48 NIV11). Or as John records Jesus saying: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21 NIV11)
You’re on a mission, Jesus says to them. Enough sitting around! Enough messing about! There’s work to be done. I am sending you, just like my Father sent me.
I love church. I believe church is vital for every Christian – it’s your family of faith where you grow and belong. But our mission is not to come to church!
We come to church to get fueled for the mission!
Do you see the difference?
Jesus Sends Us
Jesus appears at your church and mine each Sunday to say to us you are my witnesses! You’ve encountered me here! Now go! I am sending you out from here to go and share what you’ve seen!
Whether you are a clergyman or a businessman…
A preacher or a teacher…
A stay-at-home parent or a retired grandparent…
A school student or a varsity student or just a student at the school of life…
An employee or an employer…
Male or female, black or white…
Jesus says to YOU whoever you are: “I am sending you. Go and share the message and share the peace and joy I have given you!”
When I was at school, I remember my teachers would sometimes say: please go give this note to Mrs So-n-so. And I would do it! I would get up out of my chair and take the message to the person I was told to!
Isn’t that what Jesus did here? He said to them: there’s a message I want you to take to those who don’t know. Tell them: Jesus rose from the dead. He IS the Son of God, and He saved and healed ME. He can do the same for you. Ok, go!
And yet we often just sit in our seats. Not listening.
Startled into Action
The risen Christ has come, he has given us peace and joy… WHY? Because the world needs his peace and his joy, and we are the ones who can take it to them in His name.
And remember, Jesus said “just as the Father sent me, so I am sending you”. What did the Father send Jesus to do? There’s that song we sing “God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus, He came to love, heal and forgive!”
Is your life a picture of loving, healing, forgiving, pointing to Jesus who did the same?
He has appeared, and maybe he has startled you this week. I pray that he has startled us into action, into witnessing for Him in this world and living like Him wherever we go.
