The root of the word "apostle" is literally "one who is sent out" or "a messenger." Christ is both of these things. He was sent by God the Father to proclaim a message- in His words and His life- that would change the history of the world. He was, and will always be, the great revealer of the one true faith.
How did Christ deliver this message?
- Christ came to earth and took on mortal flesh. For those who recognize His divinity, this in and of itself is a message of hope for wicked humanity. God has not given up on us. And not only has He not given up, He has seen it fit for His glory' sake to offer rescue to creatures of wrath through making Himself "low" on our behalf.
- Christ taught and preached in the synagogues, on hillsides, and from boats on the Sea of Galilee. He proclaimed the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God.
- His way of life delivered a message to "sin-sick" sinners as well as religious zealots. He redefined man's interpretations and reduced the traditions of man to a pile of rubble. He shocked the sin sick with His acceptance and call unto a different life and He surprised the religious hypocrites with His outright criticism and rejection of their religious actions.
- He died and rose again. The message was authenticated by His triumph over death and the grave.
We read in several places in the gospels (Luke 7:22, 8:1; Mark 1:14-15) that Christ proclaimed the good news. In Mark 1:14-15, we read Jesus preaching "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" The good news, it appears, is that the kingdom of God had come near. It was, in fact, among them in the person of Christ.
We must remember that Christ entered into an Israelite society that was facing the burden of Roman rule. Their only hope was God and yet many had strayed far from Him. Those who clung to their faith were looking for one thing- the promised Messiah (as we studied yesterday) who would usher in the kingdom of God and a better era for the Jewish people. It was to these downtrodden peoples that Christ proclaimed His good news.
How are we to respond to this message?
Our first response and all responses that follow cannot be made by mere human decision or volition. Christ, the messenger, told us that no one can come unto the Father unless He has been drawn. I must confess that herein lies the most mysterious aspect of life for me- the intersection between human will and the Sovereignty of God. We find from Mark 1:14-15 that Jesus says the intial response to the good news should be repentance and belief. Somehow the ability to come to this point involves the drawing of the Holy Spirit and some aspect of the will of man. Once an individual has come to this point, Christ calls Him to believe upon Him as the face of the Father, the bearer of all trespasses, and the firstborn among the dead. He calls this individual to cast him or herself upon His mercy, knowing that He/she has no hope of salvation without the redemption extended through Christ's sacrifice. And upon this belief, Christ calls this one to follow the road less traveled. The road of the crucified. The road of the pure and spotless. He calls this one to reject the ways of sin, the world, and the devil and live in the kingdom of the light.
Christ, the apostle, calls those of us whom He has redeemed to follow in His footsteps. The command He gives us in Matthew 28 to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..." was not just the command given to the early church. It is the command given to you and me. Make disciples. At our workplaces. In our homes. Across the globe. Wherever you are, just make them and teach them, all the while recognizing it is the Spirit of Christ in you who is accomplishing it.
The great Apostle Christ Jesus has sent us out as messengers. Dare I even say... apostles? :-)
Tomorrow's study will again be on Hebrews 3: 1, this time focusing on Jesus as the "High priest."
1 comment:
Erin;
Ive been wondering something, and I'm not sure if you'll be able to answer it. But if people were saved and forgiven their sins in the Old Testament, why was Jesus' sacrifice needed, other than to show God's love in a physical way? Why does it say "Now we can be saved" and such, when people were faithful and saved in the Old Testament?
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