Evidence that demands a verdict

I am sure we are able from time to time to make bold claims about ourselves, after all, we all like to make a good impression and give a good account of ourselves, don’t we? For example, this might happen if we go for a job interview. However, there is a world of difference between a bold claim that stems from a positive and healthy self-image and an utterly preposterous claim that stems from vanity and ego. If someone is seeking to puff themselves up and makes exaggerated claims, I usually tend to ask for evidence and testimony. That evidence can come in many different forms. It might be testimony from people who know us well, a reference much as we might consider when someone applies for a job, it might be the fruit of our labours and accomplishments we’ve achieved. Sometimes though, you encounter people where the evidence simply doesn’t stack up.

Looking back to Jesus’ day, according to Jewish law, truth or validity had to be established by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15). Jesus’ witness and testimony about himself could not alone validate his claims, even though they were true. For the Jewish leaders, he additionally needed the witness of another. Jesus was known by his words, his deeds, the testimony of many including John the Baptist, and a testimony that was even weightier than that of John. John the Baptist was one witness, but the one to whom Jesus was referring here is his Heavenly Father (see 5:36). The key point is that the whole of Jesus’ being and doing testify to the one who had sent him. In addition, this was supported by the whole of the Hebrew Scriptures. Jesus said, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” The implication here is that to refuse to come to Jesus is to reject life itself because Christ is the giver of eternal life (1:4; 5:25; 14:6).

The Father gave direct witness to his Son Jesus at his baptism (Matthew 3:16–17), on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5), before his crucifixion (12:28), and in his resurrection (Romans 1:3–4); indirect witness came through Jesus’ works (see 3:2). To recognise Jesus is to realise his divine origin and commission. So, to believe in Jesus is to believe in the one who sent him; to reject the sent one is to reject the sender, God. This begs the question, what more evidence do we need? An equivalent analogy would be if we saw a doctor who had the only cure for our fatal disease and was offering it for free, but we decided to try every home remedy and self-help program we could find instead of accepting the cure that the doctor was offering.

We have been presented with the problem of sin and the brokenness of this world. God repeatedly offers us the solution. God sent the patriarchs, and the people didn’t believe. God sent the judges, and the people didn’t believe. God sent the prophets, and the people didn’t believe. Moses had written about Christ, but since they did not believe in Christ when he came, they did not really believe in the writings of Moses. This was Jesus’ final condemnation.

2 Chronicles 24:19 states, “…the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.” God sent himself and they still didn’t believe. 2 Corinthians 4:4 states, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

For me, central to all of this is the need for us to know Jesus personally. He is our friend, our brother, our Lord, our Saviour, and our Redeemer. With Jesus there is that invitation that demands a response, evidence that demands a verdict. Do we believe? Does that belief affect our being and our doing? Wisdom comes from making the right choice with all our being and not a response borne out of empty religious observance, with us merely ‘going through the motions’.

In our house group, we are currently working through a course called Discipleship Explored. It has taken us into some deep places and at times has been challenging. Discipleship is not a game. It is the stuff of life and a life worth living in which we seek to be authentic and express genuine belief in Christ. There is no one better to follow than Christ. So may God give us ears to hear, a mind to understand, a heart to receive, and a spirit to embrace his truth in all fullness. Amen

Ambassadors of Christ

In our Gospel reading today, we learn how Jesus sent out his twelve disciples. There’s a significant point to make about this passage which applies to us as his followers and disciples that I wanted to share with you. If you imagine a British embassy located in a foreign country, it is said that the very ground on which that embassy is located is effectively British soil. All British citizens who live and work at the embassy effectively represent Great Britain. Any hostile act against the embassy or the British citizens is an act of war.

If you bear that in mind when we look at our passage today, Jesus gave his disciples the responsibility and authority to act as his representatives in both teaching and power. This was in keeping with the Jewish concept of “shaliach”, which means that someone’s representative was seen as the very presence of that person. So, in a similar way to the British citizens working at an embassy representing Great Britain, Jesus’ disciples were ambassadors and emissaries of Christ himself and represented Jesus. The Jews would understand the teaching and ministry of these disciples to be as if Jesus himself had come to them. This was why they had been chosen (Mark 3:14–15). Jesus is also likely to have sent them out in pairs (two by two) since it was a common practice in Judaism, and in keeping with the demand for two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6).

I reminded the congregation recently of the words of Archbishop William Temple who once said, “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.” Just like the disciples, we are sent out by Jesus to witness. Through Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we too have been given the responsibility and authority to act as his representatives in both teaching and power. We are called and created to be bold in God’s mission, proclaiming the Good News, and being faithful as his disciples. Church is not simply some social club where we conditionally engage. Discipleship – authentic discipleship – is the stuff of life itself.

It is easy for modern missionaries to miss the point in the way in which Jesus sent out his disciples, and they sometimes seek to copy these instructions literally and mechanically. But the way Jesus sent out his disciples revealed both the urgency of the task and its temporary nature. The disciples were sent out and then expected to return to Jesus with a full report. This was a training mission, and they were to leave immediately and travel light, taking along only minimal supplies. They were to depend on God and on the people to whom they were sent. Nevertheless, there are some abiding principles that we can and should seek to apply:

• In our ministry, we are to keep a focus on God’s spiritual power, not on worldly possessions and frills.
• We are to step out in faith and go further and do more than our current means might allow.
• We are to worry less and trust more. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.
• We are to keep our lifestyle simple and efficient. There can be freedom in simplicity.
• When our mission is over, the only achievements worth talking about will be stories of faith tested, enlarged, and affirmed.

If we are authentic disciples and faithful followers of Christ, and our ministry is rejected, as representatives of Christ with the responsibility and authority to act as his representatives in both teaching and power, then it is Jesus himself who is being rejected if we are rejected. There have been times when I have acted in integrity, in full accordance with the law, and in line with Biblical teaching and the message I have brought has been rejected. People resist admitting blame, appearing humble, or asking forgiveness. In our arrogance, we’d rather be confident, capable, and “on top.” But faith starts with this old-fashioned, humbling exercise called repentance. It recognises that God is in charge, and we are in need. It accepts Jesus’ sacrifice, not as our right, but as his undeserved gift to us. On God’s terms, not ours, we begin our journey of faith. As we go, we remind ourselves that grace, not pride or personal power, keeps the journey fresh and vital. There have also been times when the message that I have brought has deeply resonated and connected and in God’s grace a life has been transformed.

Jesus said that those who minister are to be cared for. The disciples could expect food and shelter in return for the spiritual service they provided. Who ministers to us? We are to seek to take care of all who in their ministry serve God by serving you (see 1 Corinthians 9:9–10; 1 Timothy 5:17). This might involve inviting someone over for a simple meal; writing a note of thanks and encouragement or making a public declaration to that effect as I did last Sunday when I thanked everyone for their support and their use of time, talents and resources; it may involve giving such gifts as food, time, service, or money. Dusting off our feet should only ever be a last resort after we have repeatedly gone the extra mile and tried to win someone over. But even that should involve wrapping someone up with love and giving them back to God, praying that he might soften their heart and have mercy. We know the whole of heaven rejoices when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7).

Collect

God our creator, who in the beginning commanded the light to shine out of darkness: we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief, shine into the hearts of all your people, and reveal the knowledge of your glory in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.