By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador
Taro ake, a e kore koutou e kite ano i ahau: a taro ake ano, ka kite koutou i ahau, no te mea ka haere ahau ki te Matua.
E toe itiiti ona outou le vaai mai ai lea ia te au; e toe itiiti foi ona outou toe vaai mai ai lea ia te au, auā ou te alu atu i le Tamā.
Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
John 16:16
More than once in our woodshed I’ve come across a bird’s nest. Each time, the nest is full of hapless, disorientated, noisy chicks.
I would imagine that in the upper room, hours before Jesus is betrayed, the disciples seemed equally hapless and befuddled. But into the disciples' bewilderment, Jesus brings clarity. John records the words he spoke to them in chapter 16:16-33.
Jesus is saying, “I am going to die, but I will rise again, and you will see me again. Even though you’ll be scattered and you’ll grieve and face troubles, I have overcome the world. And even though you may be sorrowful for a short time, you will have joy again. In me, you have peace”.
We all go through upper room moments, times and seasons that leave us disorientated—personally, nationally and globally.
In those moments we can find confidence in Christ’s death and resurrection. We know that we have all that we need, that we have been saved from death and brought into eternal life. We know what the future holds: Jesus Christ, reigning in victory.
The same comfort that Jesus gave to the disciples before he died now comforts us. Christ at the cross has overcome our sin, evil and the reality of a fallen world. He is our peace, our hope and our security.
As someone from a difficult background, I was reminded again of the transforming power of Jesus and his gospel during the Dawn Service at Waitangi.
Angela Pehi beautifully shared her testimony of coming to trust in Jesus. She told the crowd that because of the saving grace of Jesus she went from suffering with trauma and alcoholism, to finding healing in Christ. God's work in her life brought her children back, and she went on to travel, get a degree and experience true freedom in Christ.
Knowing the incredible power of Jesus and his gospel, it’s such a privilege hearing how churches are working together with the campsites and national ministries who support them to point people to Jesus through this gospel from the Scriptures. With this in mind, we are really looking forward to serving amongst you over the coming year.
