I’ve always been fascinated by the lives of the earliest Christians who lived two thousand years ago. Under the crush of Roman occupation, a new movement was birthed: men and women who worshiped the risen Messiah. This wave of radical acceptance and grace-filled lives swept the world and changed human history.
In 1947, J.B. Phillips wrote this description of the Christian movement:
“The great difference between present-day Christianity and that of which we read in these letters is that to us it is primarily a performance, to them it was a real experience.
We are apt to reduce the Christian religion to a code, or at best a rule of heart and life. To these men it is quite plainly the invasion of their lives by a new quality of life altogether.
They do not hesitate to describe this as Christ ʻliving inʼ them.These early Christians were on fire with the conviction that they had become, through Christ, literally sons of God; they were pioneers of a new humanity, founders of a new Kingdom. They still speak to us across the centuries. Perhaps if we believed what they believed, we might achieve what they achieved.”
The earliest followers experienced the powerful aftermath of Jesus’ empty tomb: thousands of people turning to Jesus as their Master and Forgiver, radical life-change, and rumblings throughout society about this God-man who now lives.
In addition to keeping the Jewish Sabbath, these first followers of Christ added the observance of the first day of the week - the day that Jesus rose from death to life. This is why most Christians worship on Sunday mornings.
According to premiere Christian historian Justo Gonzalez, the earliest communion services did not center on Christ’s passion - they were not quiet, introspective, reflective services. Instead, Christians worshiped weekly in loud celebration, understanding that the tomb was empty, death could not hold Jesus, and He was ushering in a new age of victory. Yes, every Sunday was a party for One! It was much later - centuries later - before the focus of Christian worship shifted towards the death of Jesus. In the earliest Christian community, the breaking of bread took place “with glad and generous hearts” (Acts 2:46).
And so this year as our hearts turn toward the resurrection, may we embrace this same infectious enthusiasm first demonstrated by the earliest Christ followers. May we worship Jesus Christ with great passion, may we love others with scandalous grace, and may we be outward-focused in our church communities.
An empty tomb provokes nothing less.
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