February 21, 2013

HDJW?  (How Did Jesus Witness?)

Disclaimer:
1.  This series of entries, HDJW?, will not contain a multipage bibliography, quotes from religious leaders throughout the ages or life-changing insights.  I encourage differing opinions, additions or just downright disagreements.

While I have a bias toward this first HDJW? entry, I believe it is still valid.

Jesus had a sound grasp of the scripture and had spent time with like-minded people studying those scriptures.

Luke recounts the story of when Jesus was 12 years old and got separated from his parents during a festival in Jerusalem.  For over two days Mary and Joseph searched for Jesus.  Imagine the panic they must have felt.  The sleepless nights.  When they found the young Christ, where was he?  In the temple "sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions." (Luke 2:45)

Jesus knew the value of Bible study and face-to-face discourse.  When he spoke with people about the kingdom of heaven, he was able to support his position with Old Testament scripture he had learned growing up in the temple.  There are also numerous accounts of when as an adult, Jesus would return to the temple to teach and exchange ideas.  

There is a danger of becoming too academic in ones approach to witnessing.  A robotic presentation of the Roman Road is not likely to move anyone toward salvation; however, the importance of a a working knowledge of some basic "salvation" scripture cannot be overlooked.

Jesus had some advantages in the area of Bible study.  First, he was raised in a godly home.  Both parents must have had great faith considering the uniqueness of Jesus birth. The family vacation consisted of visiting Jerusalem for a religious festival.  Second, while next to nothing is known about Jesus' childhood, I have always assumed that as the Son of God, he would have been blessed with a particularly sharp mind and sensitivity to all things God.  Luke writes about the young Jesus, "he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him." (Luke 2:40)

Christ most definitely had a head start.  However, each of us can spend time in Bible study.  Whether you were a pew babies or a 45-year old new believer, reading the Bible with an evangelical bent is something each of us can do.  Few will become a Ravi Zacharias or Charles Stanley, but each of us can have a working knowledge of the what and whys of salvation.

What are some "essential" evangelical verses?