August 31, 2015

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the on” John 1:29-32

“The he says: “John, you may tell it. Go back in there and go up and down the tables, and tell all of them. And then if you want to, go upstairs and tell them all about it, and then downstairs and tell the hogshed men and the drivers and everybody what the Lord has done for you…”…Oh, that happy day! Can I ever forget it? That was my conversion morning, and that day the Lord sent me out with the good news of the kingdom. For more than forty years I’ve been telling the story. My step is getting rather slow, my voice breaks down, and sometimes I am awful tired, but still I’m telling it. My lips shall proclaim the dying love of the Lamb with my last expiring breath.” The Unmatched Negro Philosopher and Preacher, by William E. Hatcher — John Jasper (1812-1901) “For All The Saints, volume II (p. 467-468)

John Jasper was a former slave and, for fifty years, a prominent Virginia preacher. He was the youngest of 24 children. John Jasper had a major conversion experience and his master encouraged him to share it with everyone, so he spent his life spreading the good news of Christianity. He was the founder of the 6th Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he preached until his death.

In the Lutheran church we do not believe so much in a one time “conversion experience”, but more of a “life-long” conversion — where the Holy Spirit continually works in our lives helping us to understand the Gospel and to live accordingly. But this does not relieve us of the need to share the good news, nor does it mean we do not have the right or privilege to do the same. It is in living the gospel that we learn of the wonders and the power of the Christ-like life — and it allows us the opportunity to have stories of our own.

No matter how slow our step becomes, or how dim our eyesight, as long as we have breath in our lungs, we have the opportunity to share the good news. Who will you share the good news of the kingdom of G*d with today?

Pastor Dave