YOU ARE MY WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS

Luke 24:44-49

Jesus did not come to earth to start a new religion or political movement.  He came to fulfill the Word of God spoken since the beginning of time, the Word of God in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.  His life, message, and mission were deeply rooted in the Scriptures of the Hebrew Scriptures.  He opened the minds and eyes of his disciples so they could understand that their lives, message and mission were to be rooted in these Scriptures as well.  Rooted in the Scriptures and witnesses of Jesus’ life, message, and mission, they were to proclaim these things to all nations; the death and resurrection of Jesus, and repentance and forgiveness of sins. 

Is this the witness those of us who claim to follow Jesus are proclaiming these days?  Are we opening minds and eyes to the Scriptures?  Are we saying to those who need to hear it, “neither do I condemn you, now go and sin no more”?  Do we begin by acknowledging that we are first among those who need to have our minds and eyes open to the Scriptures, and we too need to hear go and sin no more as much as everyone else?

Self righteousness is a delusion, a deception, a distortion, and a lie from the enemy of God.  It is the fruit that was swallowed by the first humans in the garden and continues to be swallowed today by many who claim God as their Lord and Master.  But God is clear that we cannot serve two masters.  God cannot be claimed as Lord and be disobeyed in the same breath.  Self righteousness is evil in the eyes of God. (Jeremiah 2:13)

The disciples began their mission knowing their faults and failures and witnessing first hand the forgiveness of Jesus and the repentance that crucified any self righteousness they had.  They witnessed first hand the love and compassion Jesus had for them and for all people.  They also witnessed first hand the consequences of sin.

It is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth that “convicts the world concerning sin and righteousness, and judgment.”  Disciples of Jesus are to witness to the repentance and forgiveness that follows that conviction and show the way to secure God’s righteousness within us so that we can live our lives according to the ways of God.  We are to witness the truth that the enemy of God has no rule over us; he was judged and defeated by the work of Jesus.  This is what people need to hear, see, and experience from those who are witnesses of Jesus life, message, and mission.