Stories of Transformation

Connected to Christ
By Cathie Maeyaert  

Have you ever felt like the events of the Bible are far away in time?  Have you ever asked how Jesus could forgive your sins because you were not there?  Have you ever pondered your connection to the most miraculous event in the history of the world – God becoming man, walking among us, and saving us from our own sins?

My Bible Study group – Women of the Word - has been studying the book of Mark.  Time and time again through the first chapters of Mark, Jesus reveals Himself and His message to those around Him.  First, the revelation is only to His chosen disciples, then to certain individuals He comes into contact with, then to Jewish crowds, and then to groups of Gentiles.  He tells some people to keep His identity secret, while commanding others to spread the news of His ministry.  The common theme throughout is that people just can’t keep quiet.  They are compelled to proclaim Jesus’ power.  The people who are touched by Jesus – both physically and spiritually – feel the need to spread His Word.

We know that Jesus commanded his disciples to spread the Gospel throughout the world.  We have the book of Acts to show us how the Word spread throughout the world known to Jesus’ followers during the first century after His death and resurrection.  But, how do those stories connect to our lives today?

During my prayers one morning, I was thanking God for allowing me to grow up in a Christian family and community.  I have been surrounded by family members and friends who have always believed in God and followed His teachings.  I started to think about previous generations in my family.  Whether Lutheran, Baptist, or Methodist, my known ancestors always attended a local church and called themselves Christians.  If you could see inside my head, you would know that I’ll never be bored because I always have a story floating around in my mind.  I’m always wondering, “What if…?”  That morning was no different.  I wondered: Who was the first person in my family tree to proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ?  Who was the brave soul who broke from previous generations and said they believed Jesus Christ was the one true way to salvation?  What did they endure for this belief?  Were they shunned, tortured, ridiculed? 

My imagination flew back through many generations.  A monk could have been educated in Rome, where Christian churches and monasteries had been planted and grown throughout several centuries.  Those churches could have been started by Christians sent out from the first Christian communities started in the first century by Jesus’ apostles and disciples.  

That’s where my wondering ends.  I don’t have to imagine the rest of the story because it is not in question, and this story needs to be told:  Jesus did live.  He did walk among people – preaching and teaching.  There were witnesses.  They told others.  The message spread to friends and family.  The message spread from community to community, country to country – farther and farther into the reaches of new lands.  The message came to someone in each of our families – maybe generations ago, or maybe you are the first person in your family to proclaim yourself a Christian.  Nonetheless, the message did come, passed from one person to another.  Through those personal connections, there was, and still is, a direct link to Jesus. There is a direct connection between my life and Jesus.  There is a direct connection between your life and Jesus.  Through that link, we can claim the promise - Jesus died for the sins of the world, but He also died for each of our sins.  He knew the Good News would spread.  He knew there would be a connection between Himself on the cross and us today.  He could look out, across the ages, and proclaim to each of us, “Your sins are forgiven.”  And that, my friends, is a very real story.

We all have stories of how Jesus has transformed our lives – through people, through events, through His Word.  We need to share those stories.  We need to be a part of the chain that leads people to a tangible, living connection to Jesus’ grace and mercy.  Tell your stories of transformation.  Allow St. Andrew’s to help you share those stories with others in our congregation and in the world.  We can’t wait to hear what you have to say.  It’s going to be amazing and life-changing.