“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth but a sword.”Matthew 10:34-42

This past Friday and Saturday I went out with the OAFC (Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ) kids. We went knocking on doors hoping to tell others about the hope we have in Jesus. We found that a number of people weren’t home. Of those there were some polite and even interested listeners; a number were not interested, and few told us “to go away” in no uncertain terms. My partner, Nick, and I even had a couple of doors slammed on us.

Witnessing, “cold calling” as it is called, is hard work. You get tired, your feet can hurt if you wear the wrong shoes, and it can be discouraging. It is easier to put off going. There are a hundred excuses: The sun is too bright – you might increase your risk for skin cancer; I won’t know what to say if they ask a really hard question; I don’t’ know the Bible well enough; it is too hot or too windy or too early or too late; I’m too old, too young, too inexperienced; What if they yell at me or slam the door in my face?

Here I am a child of the King; sitting on the hope of eternal life for all who will listen and believe; Here I am with eternal fire insurance- the premiums already paid by Jesus Christ Fire, Life and Immortality Company and I’m hesitant to knock on a door. Often my witness is poor and pitiful.

It is good that Jesus’ witness was not so pitiful, poor, and weak. It is good that He gave witness even though I do not. He gave witness in the Garden of Gethsemane when they came to arrest Him. When they asked where is Jesus of Nazareth, he could have slunk away- the time isn’t right, but no He stood up and said, “I AM He.” (John 18.4-8) He gave witness even though He knew what was to lay ahead.

He was taken before Caiaphas and members of the Sanhedrin. There many witnesses told lie after life about Him. They misrepresented His work and Words and still He didn’t shrink back from the task of saving sinners. He gave a calm and confidant witness to who He was even though He knew what the answer would cost Him. “I ask you before the living God, are You the Christ the son of the Living God?” “Yes, It is as you say.” For this witness He was struck, spat upon, cursed at and his beard pulled out. Yet still His witness did not waiver (Matt 26.63-64,67-68).

He was taken to Pilate’s Palace. There He gave a clear and calm witness even though the crowds who followed after Him were persuaded to jeer Him, reject Him, curse Him, and choose Barabbus over Him (Matt 26.11-24). Even though He was flogged (Matt 26.26) He gave the witness that He had come to do His Father’s business which was to save sinners (John 3.16-18).

He was taken to Herod’s house. There Herod was overjoyed to see Him because he wanted to witness a miracle. When no miracle was forth coming He was mocked, crowned with thorns, rejected, and spat upon (Luke 23.8-12). Yet, His witness did not waiver, and I fret that they might snick at me, reject me, and slam the door in my face.

In a neighborhood called the Skull He gave an incredible witness. As they were driving the nails through His hands and feet, He cried out, “Father forgive them! They know not what they do,” (Luke 23.24).

He gave good witness to those who passed by and jeered at Him, “Let Him come down from the cross and we will believe in Him,” (Luke 23.34). This is the One who said destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days,” (Matt 26. 59-61). He gave witness to them and those crucified with Him. Even though He was hot, tired and so thirsty that His tongue stuck to the roof of His mouth; He never gave up. Being fully God He could have stepped down off that cross that said, “To Hell with all of you. I give up. You aren’t worth it.” But He didn’t. He endured it until the full measure was paid (Is 53.5). He gave witness to the seriousness of sin by giving up His life to atone for it. He gave witness to God’s love for us in that He laid down His life to make that payment.

Three days later He rose from the dead. He rose not to get even with those who had rejected Him, mocked Him, or even those who gave, and even today give, a weak-kneed and pitiful witness of Him. He rose to give witness that we are forgiven. We hear that in His Words, “Peace be with you,” (Luke 24.36).

All this witness He gave so that our eternities and the eternities of those people we witnessed to might be different. For it is written that by believing in Jesus as the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again all our eternities will be different.

All of us need Jesus, even the people who slammed the door need Jesus. All that we know in this life will pass away, but Jesus and His promises will not. He promises eternal life to those who confess Him and believe in Him as the Savior of the world. Apart from Him we would all perish. He came giving witness that we would believe and by believing have eternal life, and He sent out witnesses that all would hear and believe. Oh for a time we may have to suffer rejection, mocking and sneers but none of that matters especially when we put it up against what He suffered for us and all He freely gives- forgiveness, life, and salvation. Amen.