We've all had an experience that we couldn't keep a secret; everyone just had to hear!
When Deb and I got engaged we told our family, my brother was so excited that he went to uni the next day (he started earlier than us that day) and told all our friends. So when we walked through the gates, it felt like the whole campus already knew! He couldn't keep it in, he was so excited!
As I think back to when we started telling people that we were pregnant for the first time, it's unthinkable that we could have kept that news to ourselves. That's what happens with wonderful news - you can't keep it in!
Can you imagine what it would have been like for the apostles to have experienced the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus? It's no wonder they couldn't stop telling people about Jesus - even when they were threatened with death!
Then they (The Jewish religious leaders) called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After further threats they let them go. Acts 4:18-21
Often new Christians have this "can't help but speak" enthusiasm when it comes to speaking about Jesus. It's a challenge to those of us who have been Christians for some time not to lose the wonder of knowing Jesus. But think about it for a second:
- In Jesus, God has come and lived amongst us!
- Jesus did wonders, spoke the very words of eternal life, challenging the very core of our being.
- The wonder of Jesus' death, the awesome power and victory of his resurrection.
How can we keep the wonder of Jesus? Reading one of the gospels of Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) can help us to catch again the wonder of Jesus; who he is and what he came to do.
May you see the wonder of Jesus afresh this week so you can't but speak to those around us about him.
This material is largely the work of Craig Josling, used with permission and our thanks.
*Image – flikr.com/creativecommons Tormod Ulsberg (flickr.com/photos/tormodspictures)
