FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 196)
WITNESSES OF JESUS – 4
April 8, 2021
Today’s gospel:
Acts 3:11-26
Psalm 8:2-9
Luke 24:35-48
Jesus sends forth his disciples to be his witnesses. “You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48). What things? First, who Jesus is and what he has done for us. “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day” (Lk 24:46). We are to witness that Jesus is the One sent by God to redeem us, and that he accomplished such redemption by his suffering on the cross, his death and his resurrection.
Second, that we respond to what Jesus had done for us with “repentance, for the forgiveness of sins” (Lk 24:47a). This is the way by which we appropriate for ourselves the salvation won by Jesus for us. We repent and turn away from sin, and turn to faith in Jesus.
Third, that we ourselves are commissioned to preach in his name “to all the nations” (Lk 24:47b). This salvation is intended for all. God wants the universal restoration of mankind to Himself. Thus Jesus’ witnesses are to do this work of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth. But it starts “beginning from Jerusalem.” (Lk 24:47c). The Jews, the people of God first, then the Gentiles.
This is what Peter did. He preached to the Israelites at Solomon’s Portico about Jesus, “the Holy and Righteous One” (Acts 3:14a). He said, “the author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead” (Acts 31:15a). He called on them to “repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 31:19). He told them what they could look forward to, “that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus” (Acts 31:20). All this is about witnessing to Jesus. As Peter said, “of this we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15b).
Further, Peter spoke of “the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of the holy prophets from of old.” (Acts 3:21). God intends restoration to be for all. Thus proclaiming the gospel is to the ends of the earth. For the chosen people of God, this was in accord with God’s plan in calling Abraham, to whom God said, “In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Acts 3:25b).
Now here we are. Christians today are the new Israel. We are inheritors of the covenant and the promises of God. And we too are called to be witnesses to Jesus. This is in line with the dignity and honor afforded us by God as His creation. God had and still has His wonderful plan for us. “What is man that you are mindful of him, and a son of man that you care for him?” (Ps 8:5). Given our sin and rebellion, God still sent His Son Jesus to redeem us. And now, as Jesus’ witnesses, God gives us the privilege of doing His very own divine work, as we proclaim His salvation to the world. We are co-redeemers, working with Jesus as instruments of salvation. “Yet you have made him little less than a god, crowned him with glory and honor.” (Ps 8:6). And finally, God relies on us His people to share Christ to the world. And it is up to us to accept or not, to act or not. God has made Himself dependent on us. “You have given him rule over the works of your hands, put all things at his feet.” (Ps 8:7).
We are witnesses of and to Jesus. And in this work, Jesus sends us his own Spirit, so that we “are clothed with power from on high.” (Lk 24:49).
