Purpose Driven

James N. Lanza

Tom Rees

GIS PST 443 Disciple Making and Equipping

Fall 2012

Portrait of a Disciple

I John have been following my new friend Jesus, he is not ordinary like my other friends he has a spiritual aspect that draws all who meet him in. He speaks eloquently and relates the messages from his father God, the form of God is being taken on by this his son Jesus.  I have witnessed Jesus much spoken words come to happen, be it forgiveness, judgment, healing, mercy, grace, joy and love. Promise is made available in these spoken words, the broken the fallen, sinful and diseased all called to salvation by Gods spoken words thru this his son Jesus.  It is my understanding that something over time when the world was brought into existence went very wrong. Wickedness had entered by way of disobedience to Gods perfect creation and sin was now among us.  Jesus is preaching about salvation something we need to recognize can take the sins of the world and declare us his followers clean. A rapport with Jesus Christ is an intimate and personal relationship communicating through prayer and obedience to the words of God written for us to follow.

I have seen many amazing things happen with the birds of the air, water being turned to wine. At a well one day Jesus asked a Samaritan women for a drink, the women was unsure of  why he was even talking to her let alone asking for a drink. Jesus spoke of living water the young women was interested and asked for this living water for her. There was another time that we were gathered at the Sea of Galilee a crowd followed Jesus as he climbed up a hill and began to speak it was almost time for the feast of the Passover, Jesus took five barley loaves and two fish and miraculously feed the crowd of five thousand from it and there were left overs.

Jesus was aware if he continued to Judea the Jews were looking to kill him so he continued speaking in the temple. Upon reaching Mount Olives the crowd again gathered and the Pharisees brought an adulteress woman to him wanting him to fulfill the law and stone this woman. Jesus spoke and said, “The sinless one among you go first: Throw the first stone.” You should have seen the people’s reactions as they cowardly walked away. Jesus sent this woman on her way reminding her to sin no more. I was watching all this and could not believe my eyes nor ears. I knew I was chosen and was reminded of how much he cared for me, John, when he spoke about the sheep and how their shepherd knows them by name and they know his voice and listen. Liking the story to him being the gate keeper anyone who passes through him will be cared for. He is the good shepherd and this I know for I have been following him for some time. While many felt he was crazy and even picked up stones to throw at him saying he was a Blasphemer saying his proclaiming to be the Messiah was false. Jesus stood firm proclaiming he is the son of God.

I watch as he received word that the one he loved, Lazarus was sick. After two days of knowing this we followed him back as Jesus told us his friend was asleep and he would wake him up. We all stood in amazement as Jesus told Lazarus to come out and he did.  This was pivotal and changed the minds of so many to believe, it also began people to plot against and kill my friend Jesus, their narrow-mindedness lead them to believe if this one man would die the rest would live. Jesus no longer went in to public.

I knew what I knew because I witnessed this first hand. I believed in all I had seen. The day they took Jesus thru the town after whipping him and hung him on the cross I stood there with his mother now my mother as Jesus had said, “Women here is your son” then to me “here is your mother”  Upon hearing the words come from Jesus, “It is done” the earth shook, lighting and darkness. He was laid to rest but three days later much to all of our surprise he was gone when they went to his tomb. Not gone as in lost but gone from the tomb and ALIVE. Appearing to us his disciples he said, “Peace to you”, showing us his nail pierced hands. My brother Thomas doubted what his eyes were seeing and asked to touch the holes in his hands. Not I, for I believed.