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Verse:Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. —Matthew 8:3, NIV
When I was growing up, we read the newspaper, watched the Huntley-Brinkley Report on television, and listened to the radio.
That is how we got the news. With today’s social media, cell phones, and the internet, we have constant, instantaneous news.
How different things are now! Can you imagine what it would have been like during Christ’s ministry if, while He was performing one of His many miracles, there had been breaking-news alerts about it on television or cell phones? While Lazarus was being brought back to life, we could have seen it live! Or we could have seen the joy in the face of the woman with the flow of blood who was healed when she, in faith, touched the hem of Jesus’ garment! Jesus’ disciples did see those miracles, experienced those miracles in their own lives, and watched others’ lives change when they met Jesus. When we pick up our Bibles and read God’s Word, we also “see” those same miracles unfold as we experience the One who changes lives.
We then can experience the miracle of Jesus changing our own lives. The disciples’ excitement about Christ, and that of the many people the Bible tells us about, has continued through thousands of years.
After Christ’s death and resurrection, the disciples spent the rest of their lives sharing the good news about Jesus with others.
These, in turn, shared with many more.
That is why that same excitement, awe, inspiration, and pure joy are apparent in our own lives today when we come to Him and then share Him.
For some people traveling to other countries, sharing Jesus may come at a cost as it did for the long-ago disciples, who were persecuted for speaking His name. Yet tribulation didn’t deter them from telling people about the One who loves you and me so much that He came from heaven to show us the face of God.
The next time you hear another breaking news story, which, unfortunately, will probably not be good news, remember that one day, that kind of news will be replaced with these words: “ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4, NIV).
Then I can respond with love and gratefulness: “Thank You, my Lord.”
Jean Dozier Davey