Circuit Thoughts

It is Easter Sunday, 33 +/- a.d. (although it wasn’t called Easter yet).

Reports have been given that a certain tomb in a certain town is empty. People are confused. Outside of Jerusalem on a road going towards Emmaus two friends are talking about what has been happening on this day. The women who went to the tomb have told them the body is gone.

While they are talking a man appears and asks what they are talking about. They share, and then a discussion breaks out about what the prophets have said about this Jesus of Nazareth. They stop at an inn to have supper, and the man disappears, but not before the other two realize it is Jesus.

Okay, are you with me? There is more because the two went back to the other disciples, and while sharing their story, Jesus appears. Jesus starts the conversation with “Peace be with you”. He then starts explaining why everything that has happened should not have been a surprise. Jesus explains the prophets and the stories of the Old Testament that pointed to all the activity of the past few days. He proves that he is not a ghost by letting the disciples touch him and feed him. He is real, not a spirit.

I tell you all of this as a back story to what is probably one of the most significant verses in this reading (Luke 24:1-49). He says in verse 48, “You are witnesses of these things”. Yep, that is what he says. Get it?

Okay, imagine you are a witness that can shed light on the truth of a situation. Once the court finds that out, you will receive a subpoena to appear before the court and share what you witnessed. Your testimony can lead to a guilty or innocent verdict from the court.

Jesus Christ just served the disciples a subpoena. The court is the world, and the disciples are the witness of God’s good news to the world. And guess what, you are being subpoenaed also.

There is a pretty good chance that if you are reading this article, you are a believer in Christ. There is an even better chance that you have a personal relationship with Christ and thus a witness of God’s grace and goodness.

This means that verse 48 is yours also. It means that you are called to witness to the world about the loving grace and goodness of Jesus Christ. You are called to share the Gospel and teach others that eternal life is theirs if they only just believe and confess.

You see we are all called to make disciples. This means that someone has. This makes you and I the next witnesses in a long line of witnesses to the Gospel of Christ. Now what are you going to do about?

You could refuse to share Christ with others and be in “contempt of court” if you will. But that isn’t how Christ followers roll. No, we are called to share the Gospel. We are called to be a witness. We are called to give testimony that Jesus, the Son of God reigns forever and will return soon.

See you in church.