The end of this chapter of this never-ending story…

So it’s the last day of the month and the last day of our four month journey through the first four books of the New Testament. This journey through the Gospels has been super intense. I’ve been writing a blog every morning for about an hour and a half before starting the day: that’s pretty intense in itself. But then there’s been the content – wow! I’ve delved deeper into the life and words and actions of this man Jesus than ever before. There’s been a real shift in my understanding of his life and teaching. This glimpse into this incredibly radical, subversive kingdom perspective has renewed my excitement and enthusiasm for Jesus’ way and truth and life. I hope as you’ve walked this path with me, you’ve had a sense of that too.

And yet I leave the Gospels to venture on into the Book of Acts tomorrow with some regret. I know I have only just scratched the surface of Jesus’ teaching and actions. I have a feeling it would take a whole lifetime of study – and then some! The good news is that the rest of the New Testament is in essence the outworking and unpacking of Jesus’ life and ministry, so along with the writers of these books to come, we can still travel on this same path and unravel more of the significance of Jesus.

Each of the Gospel writers know themselves that they have only scratched the surface of the Jesus story. In writing any account of a life, the writer cannot cover every single second of every single day. The writer has to be selective, to pick out those events that carry the story forward. Some great moments have to be left out. Each writer brings their own personality and perspective to their account – that’s why each of the four Gospels is so different in tone and content.

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31

We have to remember that the accounts we read are not the full story. They provide a snapshot of Jesus’ life and teaching to demonstrate that Jesus is who he said he was: the son of God, sent by God to reconcile all people to himself. Jesus shows us that relationship with God is possible and what it looks like to live life to the full as God intended all human beings to live.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. John 21:25

I love this verse. Let’s never fall in the trap of putting Jesus in the box of what we know, what we have been told. There was so much more to him than that. We can never know it all, not in this life. Everywhere he went, he changed lives. He enabled individuals to embark on a new narrative, to start living a new story – imagine all those books that could be written!

Matthew’s account ends with very clear instructions. Jesus may be leaving, but the work is far from over. And yes, Jesus is physically leaving, but on a spiritual level, he will never ever leave his followers alone. He will always be there.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20

The original manuscripts of Mark’s account end abruptly with the events of that first Easter Sunday morning. To conclude the book more satisfactorily, the next eleven verses were added at a later stage, to tie up some of the loose ends with details of Jesus’ appearances and instructions to his followers.

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.  Mark 16:19-20

Jesus may have returned to heaven, but this story on earth is far from over.

Luke’s account ends in a similar way with what happens next, as a taster for the book that is to come – essentially Luke Part 2, which we have come to know as the Book of Acts.

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Luke 24:50-53

There is more to come, so much more. This is simply the beginning of the never-ending Jesus story, this transformational story that is to be spread to all corners of the earth throughout all time to come.

This story that we are each invited to be a part of…