...keeping Jesus out of the grave.

I saw this picture during Holy Week last week as we came up to Easter and it touched me. S0 true. I was so happy to see churches rallying in an effort to bring the worship experience into our homes. People were excited to get their devices ready to watch the sermon. Some churches even offered communion online. Imagine that! It was great. What a joy to see that nothing can stop the Church of Jesus Christ from getting its message through to people!

          Yesterday, I heard a message and one simple phrase just jumped out to me, that really, had nothing to do with the sermon. “A week later…”, it said in John 20:26. The message was about Thomas coming to believing when he finally saw Christ. But what caught my attention was that, here we are, one week after Easter, and I wonder if Jesus is still out of the grave for many of us.

          Not being able to meet together in a building has forced many of us “church people” to come out of the security of the temple or sanctuary or worship center, whatever we call it, and learn to be the church, rather than go to church. You see, for a long time, many of us, myself included, have sort of kept Jesus inside the church building, coming weekly to meet with him, and going home after the service, while Jesus stays inside. In other words, we have turned our church buildings into graves where Jesus stays all week, comes out on Sunday, and back in Monday.

          Before ascending into heaven, Jesus said, "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” But Jerusalem was comfortable. So they were persecuted, and thus had no choice but to flee, and take Jesus with them.  Throughout history, there have been great revivals, and always, they have come after a period of lethargy and doldrums.

          I worked at a missions agency at one time. I have also gone on missions trips abroad. I have seen the church in other countries struggle to even survive sometimes. I have known of workers that have to stay under the radar to protect their lives. But in those places, I have also seen the Christian community helping each other and those outside the fellowship. I’ve seen it be the hands and feet of Christ, literally, to those around them. The result is a strong church that stops at nothing to preach the Word.

For a while, in our country, we have been praying for revival. Yet, as Christians, we can get so comfortable in our buildings, with our programs so perfectly and relevantly designed. Not that they are bad, but in the midst of it, it is so easy to keep Jesus still in the grave of those mega buildings, and our perfectly coordinated and executed worship services. Perhaps it’s time that we feel a little pressure to roll the stone and let Jesus out, so we can really be His witnesses. Out of our Jerusalem and into our Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

          I saw it this week. I saw how this pandemic has forced us to walk the walk better. Oh, that we take heed and continue, and when we go back to our churches, not put Jesus back in the grave of the building. Oh, that God will grace us with understanding to be Jesus to our neighbor, our uncle, our spouse. Sometimes the world we need to save is closer than we think. Sometimes it lives under own roof.

          My sisters, this is an unprecedented opportunity to show the world that Jesus truly LIVES! He LIVES INDEED! Let’s take it.