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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
We are in John Chapter 20 considering some on the consequences and implication of the Resurrection. Jesus does not want any of us to carry around a dead Christ. God wants us to tell people that Jesus Christ is Risen and Alive. There are so many people who do not know that this really happened. It is not just that they don’t believe. They have never had it all explained to them by people who know it to be true.
The risen Jesus refers to the disciples for the first time as brothers. It is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that makes us brothers and sisters.
Jesus wants these men He had chosen and called to be prepared for what was to happen later that day.
Mary, go and tell them what has happened here, because they were not going to have a permanently physical relation with Jesus Christ either, but when He breathes the Holy Spirit into them, the relationship would become more real than any physical ties.
That night, when Jesus appeared in that Upper Room, He transforms the scene from fear to faith.
Fear leads you to withdraw from people – to close windows and lock doors – to shut others out – but the closed doors did not keep Jesus out.
I am glad that there are times when Jesus does not stand at the door and knock – when He sees the needs of those who are His – He comes in and draws so close, and ministers to those needs as only He can.
When we come to the table to eat bread and drink wine, expect the risen Christ to come close, and draw near, and to minister in some way.
Let our loving God deal with any fear, and shine His Light into any areas where darkness may continue to lurk.
Emotions and Mind and Will are all involved, as we open ourselves to Jesus Christ and His Word, and the knowledge that He gives through the Holy Spirit is to reassure.
We do not come together simply to feel good, but to grow more godly, and then we might feel good. We learn from this passage about Resurrection Day that our feelings must never dictate what we do. We are to be led by the living Christ.
And we learn too that all this is for sharing. It is not just for ourselves. Christ does not want us to hold onto what is intended to flow.
Verse 18 – Mary learned the lessons. She goes and says, “I have seen the Lord”. She told them.
It is good when lessons are learned, and acted upon – Emotion to Obedience – Ignorance and Uncertainty to Knowledge and Assurance – from Self to Others – from Fear to Faith.
A few words from Jesus and all that can take place.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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