Over the Easter holiday weekend I watched a wonderful television feature about a man who heard Billy Graham preach in his country of China. This Chinese man, probably in his early 30s, eventually converted to Christianity, but the journey of his conversion started in “the preaching of the Good News” by an evangelist named Billy Graham.
The story told of this man’s walk with the Holy Spirit. The one statement I can remember him saying, which stuck in my head but more so in my heart was something like, “Once I ‘accepted the reality of his (Jesus’) sacrifice’ I knew I could not live without him (Jesus).”
In this past week of having a few days off for some R&R, I have thought often how important “accepting the reality of his sacrifice” is for one to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. After hearing the Passion proclaimed on both Palm Sunday and Good Friday I began to pray about how the proclamation of the Passion Narrative is received by the ears and hearts of those who come to worship on those important days during Holy Week. It would seem correct to assume that those who hear the Passion Narrative would then and there become intentional disciples, but this we find is sadly and not necessarily the case for many.
Our elect at St. Augustine, Ashland carried in the cross on Good Friday and then watched the Catholic community come forward to “venerate” the cross. Everybody came forward to venerate, to “behold the wood of the cross” on which hung the Savior of the World. The elect watched first the parish community come forward and in their chosen way venerate the cross, and then we invited them to join us in this ritual. Both men were overwhelmed with this action as an act of prayer and honoring of what Jesus embraced in his death, death for our sins.
I have done this wonderful ritual so many times now, and with great love and gratitude for Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, but the question of the Chinese man now challenges me to a deeper understanding of the scourging, crucifixion, and dying of Jesus on the cross. Have I fully “accepted the reality of his sacrifice”? What really do I see and what does my heart feel each time I ponder the great love of Christ, dying at Calvary?
His name is Jesus, which means “He will save us of our sins.” Well it is by the suffering, and death on the cross that we have been saved. If I claim that to be truth for me on my journey which hopes to end with a place in his kingdom, then “accepting the reality of his sacrifice” is an amazing gift that I am called to treasure — and then to respond generously back to God (stewardship) for all the good he has done for me (for us). This is what being an “intentional disciple” is all about. For his ultimate sacrifice, I desire to give my life back to him and with great love desire a personal relationship with Christ, and love him in humble service with all I am.
Our Easter readings find the first Disciples still “locked” up safe in a room, very afraid. Finally at Pentecost, they get the courage to go out, like Billy Graham, and “preach the Good News.” Now this evangelical call to discipleship is for us. We who are confirmed have been equipped to be a voice for building up his kingdom and spreading forth the Good News. Have you made the commitment to be an “intentional disciple”? It is all about conversion like the Chinese man experienced. First we must, “Accept the reality of his sacrifice”! We will then cry out: “Then sings my soul, my glory God to thee, how great Thou art, How great Thou art.”