"Lighting the Fire"
Jotting – Week 25

Tell What Jesus Has Done

“Though I was blind, now I see.” These were the words of testimony spoken by a man who had been blind from birth (John chapter 9). The Pharisees, convinced Jesus was a sinner because He had healed on the Sabbath Day, “again called the man who was blind, and said to him, ‘Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.’ He answered and said, ‘Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see’” (John 9:24-25). Later, Jesus revealed to him that He was the Son of God; the man answered, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Jesus–and simply told what Jesus had done.

The people in New Testament times followed Jesus for various reasons. Some for healing, some to be fed bread and fish, some to pick fights, some to hear stories, some to ask questions, some to listen to Jesus tell of the Father’s love, to repent, and to take up their cross to follow.

Many told what Jesus had done for them, those who had been healed (Mark 1:40-45; John 5:1-15), had been delivered from demons (Luke 4:33-37 and 8:26-39), or had seen Jesus perform other miracles (Matthew 9:18-31; Mark 1:23-33; Luke 5:12-15 and 7:11-17). They simply told what Jesus had done.

Peter, John, and Paul told what Jesus had done for them: Peter assures the people he writes to in his epistle that he and others were eyewitnesses of the transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16-18); he relates how Jesus sent an angel to release him from prison (Acts 12:1-17). Paul tells the story of his conversion (Acts 9) to the commander of the barracks when he is arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21:31–22:22); when he is allowed to speak in his own defense to King Agrippa (Acts 26:1-23); and testifies to all Jesus is doing for him numerous times in his epistles. John is so overcome, so astonished by Jesus’ love for him, he refers to himself several times in his gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20).

A pastor once called on an elderly woman who was confined to her wheelchair. She had recently suffered through the deaths of both husband and son. “Oh, Pastor,” she remarked when he entered her home, “God is so good to me. See, right outside my window here, He sent some birds to build a nest in that tree so I could watch the new life that He sends.” She simply told what Jesus had done.

Sometimes we see the hand of God in small things during our day, the blessings we often take for granted, the relationships we enjoy, the food we eat, the safety and protection that are ours, the freedom to worship God. Sometimes we experience God’s goodness in more spectacular ways: a snatch from death, a miracle child, healing of a disease on which doctors had given up, turning of a family member back to God, the drawing of someone out of a pit of despair and dysfunction. The list could go on and on. Add your own to the list, then tell someone today what Jesus has done for you and why He makes a difference in your life. Simply tell what Jesus has done and is doing.

Recognize God’s goodness and love, His guidance and gentleness in your life. Tell your face about it, let your mind dwell on what is pure, good, holy, right, just, lovely. Someone is bound to ask, “What happened to you?” Then you can simply tell about the Lord who is making a glow of your faith.

What Jesus did for each of us on the cross cannot be duplicated, outdone, or understated in any way. It is so enormous, it takes one’s breath away. It is so overwhelming, we sometimes shake our head in wonder. It is so loving, that no other love can ever match it. Tell about it. Others are waiting to hear. Others need to hear. Others will die eternally without hearing. So simply tell what Jesus has done.

Pray: Father, You have given me so many gifts through Jesus, not the least of which is the forgiveness of all my sins and the promise of eternal life. These gifts are not to be hoarded, Father, but shared and spread abroad in His name. Send those who need to hear to me so I can simply tell them what Jesus has done for me–and what He can do for them. In His precious name we pray. Amen.