Deliver. Deliver the message.
Sometimes I can hardly wait to deliver one. Other times it’s hard to.
It’s kind of funny how one of the first things I think of when I hear those words are memories from middle and high school. Passing notes in class. Of course today passing notes is called social media but not too long ago – really not too long ago – we used notebook paper torn out of a spiral notebook.
I’d write a short note, fold it into a small, yet fancy, rectangle and lean over to the guy sitting beside me. When the teacher wasn’t looking, I’d silently say, “Pass this to Jennifer”, trusting he’d read my lips, as I secretly handed him the note in the hopes the girl beside him would get it to Jennifer one more isle over without getting caught.
The notes I sent to friends could’ve been a short one like, harmless one like, “Find me at lunch so we can sit together,” But depending on the teacher and the subject, sometime the teacher would think I’d be taking down notes, but instead I’m writing a page-long note to a friend because it was more fun than learning about the motion of an electrical current.
Now fast forward several years and I’m sent a note via email from a friend who was led to pray for me and all of us women in Alamance county last month. The words, get up, go, deliver the message and shine kept coming to her mind, so she prayed those things for us. As she did, thisverse – or messages – came to her mind.
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3
Their means. Their means of finances, cooking, washing, cleaning, crafting, gardening, raising children, teaching, and telling others about Jesus’ stories and miracles.
They were drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
Jesus loved them, and had grown to realize it, and began to love him back.
So, when the time came for Jesus to be persecuted and charged for crimes he didn’t commit, their hearts must have been torn to pieces.
Can you image the emotions, grief and heartache they had to have felt when they witnessed him being spit on, beaten, and chunks of skin ripped off his back with sharp blades attached to a whip. They watched him carry a heavy, wooden cross on top of his bloody, raw back. They saw him nailed to the cross taking short, painful breaths until his last one. I cannot even imagine that sorrow they had to have felt when they watched him be taken off the cross, wrapped in cloth that turned a dark, scarlet as it soaked up his blood, and laid in a tomb.
I cry with them.
Yet.
After what must have been the longest three days, they experienced an awe like no other.
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell {deliver the message} his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” Matthew 28:1-7 (NIV) emphesis added
After regaining themselves after being scared by the angels, that boulder was pushed to the side and all that was there was Jesus’ folded burial cloth. With Jesus not in sight, excitement erupted deep within. They ran from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy to deliver the message. I really can’t fathom how that must have felt having witnessed what had been done to him three days earlier and now see he is risen from death.
That day they were delivered from grief, pain and heartbreak. Delivered from fear and anxiety. Instead they were brought to joy from resurrection. Their sorrow was replaced by awe and wonder. A new spark was ignited inside of them and they wanted more than anything to spread the Good News that Jesus truly is the Savior of the world. Nothing nor no one could hold them back. Strength, courage and passion was sewn into their lives.
After Jesus ascended to heaven, I bet they took their radically amazing, life-experience story of resurrected life and told other women and their children as they went about their everyday responsibilities. Their joy was seen and heard at the water well, in their small home, in the garden, in town, or wherever else they were. I think they used their God-given gifts to spread the love of Christ and may have never realize it. Delivering the message of Christ’s saving grace became part of their lives like breathing.
I want to breathe that way too. Do you?
Delivering the message of redemption was seen in their daily responsibilities, talents and passions. They wanted to help deliver people to the empty tomb and truth of the Good News.
That Message has been delivered here to us in our time and place. For over 2000 years, that promise has been delivered through His Word and the stories from all people who choose to follow Him.
Make us strong and courageous to deliver Your Message.
{To read the other posts from this series feel free to find them here}