Jerusalem - It has been several days now since Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, but there have been numerous reports that he has been seen alive by many people. Recently eleven of his closest followers returned from Galilee where they claim to have spoken with him. One of them, a former tax collector named Matthew, says that Jesus told them "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt 28:18-20 NIV)
Another of the followers named John remembered that on the night Jesus was arrested, Jesus told his disciples "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. … You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." (John 15:5-8, 16 NIV)
John also recalled that just minutes before he was taken, Jesus had been praying "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:20-23 NIV)
Many in Jerusalem, and indeed in the whole empire are hoping that this movement will go away, now that its’ leader is gone. However, if these disciples do indeed follow through on the instructions of their teacher and make disciples of all nations, then in the opinion of this correspondent, the world has not seen the last of this Jesus yet.
The Way of Discipleship from Look at the Man by Tim Woodroof and Glen Gray
How To Change People , by Bob West, The Milpitas Messenger, November, 1995
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Copyright © 1996 by Gerry Sturgeon
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.