Digging Deeper – Commissioned by Joy: The Call to Testify
When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit…”
John 20:19-22
COMMISSIONED BY JOY: THE CALL TO TESTIFY
On the same day, when the two men had hustled back to Jerusalem, in the evening, Jesus finally made a special house call (or hideout call) to His disciples. Again, Jesus took the initiative to go to Peter, James, John, and the others—to open their eyes.
When the disciples saw His hands and His side, they rejoiced. Then Jesus gave them a most special gift: He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” giving them authority to forgive the sins of others.
Basically, He gave them both the authority and the responsibility to go and tell the world, “I have seen the Lord!” Jesus was commissioning them for His ministry. He was drafting them into His service.
If Jesus has appeared to you in such a way that you have rejoiced upon seeing Him, then you have been commissioned into His service.
My joy (rejoicing) and my responsibility (as simple as it is) is to tell others that I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!
And so it is with you, who call Jesus Savior.
Do you remember what it was like when Jesus was not understandable to you—as you cowered in your hidden life—and then suddenly, Jesus stood before you, even when you thought the door to your heart was shut and locked (verse 19)?
Do you remember rejoicing when you saw the Lord? (verse 20) That was the moment Jesus revealed Himself to you, when your eyes were opened and you understood.
Do you remember?
If so—GO, and tell everyone!
Quite simply, Dave Griffith loves getting to know Jesus better by studying His Word daily and is passionate about teaching his siblings in Christ how to study His Word as well. He is passionately in love and like with his helpmate, Jackie; and is most fulfilled when he is hanging with his 10 kids (3 of his, 2 of Jackie’s, 3 are married, 2 more spiritually adopted) and 9 grandkids. He is a small group leader and a men’s group leader. He is a serial entrepreneur owning or having owned numerous businesses. He also enjoys naps!