For Christians, we only truly know
as much as we truly do.
Jesus comes to his disciples today to
strengthen their faith to be his witnesses. So he asks them a very
important question, the first question there in the upper room – do
you remember what that important question was: “Do you have
anything to eat?” They won't believe, they think he's a ghost, so
Jesus gets down to business, even in a humorous way.
Witnesses are what Jesus calls his
disciples to be at the end of the Gospel. Witnesses testify to
something they have seen, heard, or experienced. The Twelve are now
charged to take their experiences with Christ, (actually those
experiences after his
Resurrection, not before) and testify to the world about the truth of
the matter: Jesus has been raised.
For
Christians, we only truly know
as much as we truly do.
We
learn much more by doing than by simply listening or repeating. It
is when we put something into practice that it becomes real and alive
for us. So for the Apostles, they knew Christ and the Gospel best
when they went out and witnessed to Him before others. This is
because the Gospel is not meant to be kept hidden, but shared, by its
very nature – so it isn't fully itself if it is turned inward.
In our letter from 1 John we see the
emphasis of following God's commandments. We have to put into
practice in our lives the truth of the Gospel we have received in
order to say we truly know him.
And mysteriously, walking in God's
commandments helps us to know Him better. When we forgive
seventy-seven times, we experience the wisdom in that teaching. When
we give without counting the cost to the poor, we see Jesus in them.
When we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we find the Lord
satisfying us in our prayers.
And mysteriously, walking more closely
in God's commandments helps us to witness to Him better. We then
testify with authority and authenticity to the God who has worked in
our lives. We have, maybe without even noticing its profound
implications, experienced the Risen Christ who has come to us and
brought us peace.
For Christians, we truly know
when we truly do. May we
continue to walk by the Holy Spirit so that we can know the Lord more
in our lives.
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