The Identity of Witnesses

Admin 18 April

Scripture:

Luke 24:36-49
Jesus awakens their identity
When our children doubts their identity, we show them evidences of their own identity to ensure that they don't doubt again.

Jesus awakened their identity as disciples. Jesus called them that 'witnesses'. Witnesses is their new identity. Before Jesus' resurrection, they were disciples. After Jesus' resurrection, Jesus gave them this new identity. (Luke 24:48)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19)

What is our identity?

We are the disciple of Christ and we must witnesses of Christ - beyond disciples. if we are convinced of Christ's resurrection, we must be witnesses of Christ. Let's remind our identity as we consider Christ resurrection.

Jesus made a lot of efforts to awaken the disciples' identity. Jesus shows his disciples the resurrection of his flesh. (Luke 24:39) Jesus himself ate fish for the resurrection of the body. We have to belief that Jesus resurrected in the body.(Luke 24:42-43)

To awaken the disciples' identity

Jesus wants to tell his disciples that Old Testaments' prophesies have been fulfilled and the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies are right before them. (Luke 24:44-46)

Jesus asks his disciples to wait - wait for the Father's promise, the power from above - the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings the identity of the witnesses. (Luke 24:49)
The Holy Spirit completely establishes the identity of the witnesses. The Holy Spirit make to understand the witnesses' mission. The Holy Spirit empowers the witnesses to courageously preach Christ. Therefore, without the Holy Spirit, there is no identity of the witnesses. It is the work of the Trinity that Jesus awakens in the disciples the identity of the witnesses.  (Acts 1:8)

Jesus showed them that he was resurrected to the flesh. He showed them himself through his body. Jesus completed God's prophesy and make the disciples realize. He said that when the Holy Spirit comes upon them with power, the identity of witnesses will be complete. So it is the work of the Spirit.

Conclusion

Jesus' resurrection gave us new identity - it is the witness' identity. Witnesses making disciples.

When we decide to believe in Jesus Christ, we were called disciples. But we have to be beyond disciples. We are now designed to be witnesses.

We must discover our identity through resurrection. The Lord wants us to live in a witness' identity. The Lord wants us to be witnesses of the resurrection.