Monday, March 4, 2002
Anniversaries can throw another log on the old romantic fire. Our kids watch the video of their wedding. They didn't have video in those primitive days when my wife and I were married, but we do have an audio tape of our wedding. And it's great to revisit the day that our marriage began and to hear what we promised each other, and to remember the passion of our first love.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Going Back To Where It Started".
Something renewing happens when we go back to where our marriage began - you're reminded of the wonder of your relationship. That may be the kind of touch your relationship with the Lord Jesus needs right now. And right now He may be calling you back to where it all began.
He did that with His first disciples in our word for today from the Word of God. It begins outside the empty tomb of Jesus, where He has just walked out of His grave under His own power. His disciples don't know it yet. They've watched their dreams turn to nightmares, their hopes turn to despair as the Man to whom they've given their lives was nailed to a cross.
As the women who were the first to see the risen Christ fall at His feet to worship Him, He says, "Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee; and there they will see Me." Galilee? That's some 90 miles away - on foot! Why not Jerusalem where they already are? Well, the Bible says, "The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'"
Jesus is preparing them for a mission and for a spiritual greatness that they could never have imagined. But He asks them to go to Galilee for that. So why Galilee? Well, the Bible doesn't spell out the reason, but I can tell you at least one reason. Galilee is where their whole walk with this amazing Savior began. It was in Galilee that most of them met Him. It was in Galilee that they first saw what Jesus could do. It was in Galilee that they first heard - and answered - His call, "Come, follow Me" (Mark 1:16-18).
So something very exciting is happening here. Jesus takes His disciples back to where it all started so He can take them where they've never been before! He may be wanting to do the same for you. You've gotten entangled with all those responsibilities you have, those scars you've gotten - maybe from other believers, those frustrations, and all that busyness. Jesus knows you need to go back to Galilee. In your heart, would you let Him take you back to how He rescued you from your sin, to that time He spared you, to the time He healed you, and to the time He first showed you that He was calling you to serve the King of Kings.
Remember the passion of your first love for Him - the promises you made to Him - the wonder of belonging to Jesus. Maybe you've lost your focus. It's time to go back to Galilee - back to where you knew what you have forgotten recently - that it's all about Jesus. Its not all about church or Christianity or Christians or Christian work. It's all about Jesus. You knew that back then. He wants to take you back to where it all began - so He can take your life where it's never been before!