Resurrection and Birth of a Small Church

Do you ever wonder what the early Christians where talking about when they got together and celebrated the day our Lord was resurrected? I can imagine the two that walked the Emmaus road retelling again and again how their hearts burned with in them as He opened the scriptures to them. As they saw the nail print scars in His hands when He broke the bread and the scars burned on their hearts as He open the Word to them would always be a reminder of what happen that night long ago.
I to remember the time my heart burned as I saw God open the eyes of men that had been blinded by darkness for many years. Go back with me 30 years; walk up a small hill along a beautiful little river in the mountains of Papua New Guinea and have a seat with a group that are hearing the gospel for the first time. Our two Bible teachers George and Bob put the final touches on the gospel story as the sun begins to break through the morning fog. As they teach we all help in this final story by acting out what was taking place at Calvary that morning years ago.
When I, acting the Roman guard kicked and beat Bob who was acting the part of Jesus the people were very disappointed and could not believe what was taking place, their hero was being mistreated. After all the weeks of teaching showing all Jesus had done made it hard for them to believe what was taking place before them. As we spat on Him and hung Him on the cross I could see tears come to some of their eyes.
Before we removed Him from the cross we acted out the part of the Roman soldier piecing the side of Jesus with a spear, when they saw the blood in the form of colored water some began putting two and two together, all the weeks of teaching was beginning to come alive. But it was not until the make shift grave opened and they saw Jesus standing alive that things began to happen.
The oldest man in the village was one of the first to speak up, “I believe” he said and from there it began as more and more people saw Jesus resurrected by faith and became believers. Something was burned into my heart that day anew as well. Satan cannot keep these people hid in spiritual darkness forever because God is sending more men and women to the harvest fields that are ripe unto harvest. He said, “You shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” To this end I know God has called me into His service and with His grace I will forever more keep moving forward.
I am excited as I watch so many new people from different places around PNG coming to Jesus and watching them grow to the point of going out on their own with the gospel message. The message that Jesus is alive and will save those that call upon Him. It is amazing what God’s people will do when by faith they see the Son of God high and lifted up. Yes, without the resurrection and Jesus setting at God’s right hand, we would have no message of good news to preach. May your heart burn as you recall again what Jesus has done for you and may you feel the warmth of the Holy Spirit comforting your soul.