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Psalm 118v14-29 The Lord has become my salvation
John 20v19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples.
Acts 5v27-32 The Apostles testify to the Sanhedrin
Follow Me, Love one-another, and Forgive sins!
In John’s Gospel, Jesus’s ministry opens up with the invitation ‘Follow me” and closes with the invitation ‘Follow me’ John 1v43 and 21v19, 22.
One of the last things Jesus taught his disciples before he died, (and in the context of the last supper), was the new commandment, ‘Love one another’. John 13v34-35.
And now after the resurrection during his first appearances to his disciples, the first thing he teaches his disciples is, ‘Forgive sins’. John 20v19-23.
v22-23. Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.
This is to be the future ministry of the church!
A relationship with God that is based and focused on Grace, through love and forgiveness.
This is a massive departure from the OT relationship based upon law and judgement.
We Christians are the most blessed in all the world, because God has given us the Good News through the Messiah, his Son Jesus Christ.
So how are we doing with this wonderful treasure?
Have we hidden it to keep it safe or have we set it on a lamp stand so that all the world may see the light?
Have we allowed the salty-ness of the Gospel to spread through all our life with the love and grace of God? Or have we allowed the yeast of the OT Pharisees to pull us back into a kind of OT Christianity based on law and judgement?
Just how far have we and the church strayed from these sharply defined principles?
What have we done to the Gospel that we push people away and are rude or unkind, because they don’t fit with our view?
If we want to follow Christ, then we must love others, forgive, and follow Jesus.
If we are not willing to do that, then we have no place in God’s Church.
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray. Our Father who art in heaven… Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
We must change and refocus on these simple Gospel principles.
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