Jesus Messiah

The first thing Andrew did was to find

his brother Simon and tell him,  “We have

found the Messiah”  (that is, the Christ).

And he brought him to Jesus.

                                      John 1:41-42 

     Overwhelmed by the beautiful lyrics of Chris Tomlin’s Jesus Messiah I wept still trying to retain my composure from the front row of the choir. A few minutes later, as my husband and I took our seats among the congregation, I opened my Bible and my bulletin to the note-taking page. The large font of pastor’s sermon title jumped off the golden paper. Capture the Vision!

     As my eyes scanned the sermon outline,  my mind scanned the lyrics sung earlier. Reminded that Jesus Messiah became sin for me so that I might enter into His righteousness, the sermon became a 3-D message reaching out to grab my heart. Christ died for me, for one and for all. He sees me, the face in the crowd. He also sees the crowd—the many.

     Our pastor continued to speak about our need to identify those around us who need to know Jesus, and he encouraged us to intercede on their behalf and to invest in their lives. He challenged each of us to be bold enough to invite them to be part of the church. My mind rushed to neighbors who need Jesus, and I made a mental list of those my husband and I could pray for and invest in their lives.

     After evening church service, I walked up the hill by our home to take a photograph of the setting sun. As I stood in awe of the orange and blue sky hand painted by my Heavenly Father, the first name on my list drove down the hill and waved. Moments later, she drove up the hill and stopped. As we chatted, I extended a dinner invitation and she accepted.

     I awoke this morning singing, Jesus Messiah—rescue for sinners. I thought about Andrew and how the first thing he did after “finding” Messiah was to find his brother so he could get him to Jesus.  My heart pounded at the thought of all those I have left behind—untold!  Why?

     It is important that Christians capture the vision of sharing the gospel—the good news! It is important that we share the news that Messiah, Immanuel, The Redeemer has come for one and for all. It is important that we remind ourselves that a message needs a messenger. If you know Christ, share the good news with someone today—Messiah has come.

     There is no doubt in my mind that the Holy Spirit invaded the room as these beautiful lyrics were penned. Sing with me…

Jesus Messiah, name above all names
Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners, the ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

©JP 2013