The Upload
Posted on Apr 17, 2015 by
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
I pray you had a blessed Easter and week!
I was watching the news this morning and two of the top stories didn’t have to interview real people to talk about the events that were being reported about. In both cases, instead of talking to a person, the reporter was able to show a video that was shot of each of the particular incidents and so, I thought to myself, I wonder if in this world of advanced technology, the need for humans to be witnesses to events will be necessary in the future? Everything we do will somehow be recorded and so, all that will be needed is to “roll the tape,” to see what happened at any particular event.
Now, in the future, this thought of mine may come true, but I don’t think it can ever come true in regards to faith. In our Gospel story for this Sunday, Luke tells us as evening came on that first Easter Sunday, after appearing to the two disciples who had been traveling on the road to Emmaus earlier in the day, Jesus finally appeared to his disciples who had locked themselves in the upper room in fear, trying to make sense of what had happened to their leader.
As they were discussing all the happened, the Resurrected Jesus, showed up and said, “Peace be with you) (24:36). Then, after assuring them that he was really Jesus, he ate with them and he reminded them all he had taught them and then he said, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things” (24:46-48).
We are to witness to all witnesses to all the God has done through Jesus and we are to be the ones who go and proclaim this to the world. No video, no news paper, no books, not even the Bible can witness like you
Now I don’t think witnessing has to be someone quoting scripture, or standing on a street corner and shouting, “Repent…” No, the best witnessing is done indirectly, humbly and gently. Witnessing is best received when others can observe and hear and think about on their own time how we Christian witnesses live our lives. I think we can be at our best when we are quiet witnesses; that is those that don’t have to use words to proclaim Christ as our Lord.
Witnessing is the telling of personal experience, what we ourselves have seen and heard and felt. As witnesses, we don’t have to draw conclusion or make arguments – all we must do is tell the truth, and live the truth, as we know it.
This week we hear Jesus say, you are my witnesses. I know it is difficult for us Lutherans to do, but in today’s world, I think Christian witnesses are need more than ever, so here is my question of the week, “Can I get a witness? Jesus is asking us to tell his story, to tell the world about about the love of God in Christ, and to live a life of joyful service, loving friend and enemy alike. So, will you do it?
Have a blessed week!
Shalom,
Pastor Dave