The results of transformation are often obvious while the catalyst for that transformation is often mysterious. For example, we may observe a person who has been addicted to a habit, like smoking cigarettes or over-eating, suddenly set aside their obsession. Less obvious may be the catalyst for such a change. Perhaps a doctor had privately announced that if they did not abandon their behavior, they would be dead in the span of a few months. In this case, the prospect of dying overwhelms the craving for nicotine that diminishes lung capacity or the dainty morsel that keeps adding girth to the waistline. We may observe the change but perhaps not the reason.
Often when a transformation occurs people try to explain what may have ignited the obvious change. In the March 2012 issue of the National Geographic there is a feature article entitled “The Journey of the Apostles.” In the article a Benedictine monk and historian, Columba Stewart, says this about the early church leadership. There was no great organizational structure behind their movement but a “tiny, vulnerable, poor, often persecuted group of people who were on fire with something… blasting out of Jerusalem and scattering across the known world.” They were intent on spreading the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross where he died for the sins of the world. This was the same group for the most part that had abandoned Jesus. They fled their rabbi, Jesus, when he was arrested by the Romans in the Garden of Gethsemane. The key spokesperson for their band, Peter, was the same one that on three separate occasions denied that he even knew Jesus. After Jesus was buried and even after reports had come to them indicating that Jesus was raised from the dead, this same group hid behind locked doors fearing what the religious establishment and the Roman government might do to them.
A transformation took place and their timidity was replaced with a bold message that Jesus was their risen Savior and Lord, and this was good news the whole world needed to hear. The religious community that tried to silence the apostles took notice of the transformation of Jesus’ followers. Seeing the boldness of the apostles they “realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men” and “they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). In other words they saw a transformation whereas once ordinary men were now living extraordinary lives. They were astonished because the catalyst for such a change was seemingly mysterious to these religious leaders.
I suggest the catalyst for such a change was a dynamic encounter with the risen Christ and a direct commission from the risen Lord as to what they were supposed to do. The encounter came when they had lost hope. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus said, “We had hoped he (Jesus) was the one to redeem Israel” (Like 24:21). Those words reflect defeat and despair born from the events of recent days when they saw Jesus die on a cross and then placed in a tomb. Their hope was buried with Jesus’ body. Now on this desolate road they encountered a risen Jesus and he ignited their cold, hopeless hearts so they became burning hearts of passionate hope (24:32). Later that same risen Jesus would speak to a gathering of the apostles and give them a commission “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” (24:47). I suppose you could say that the risen Christ Jesus was the catalyst to ignite their lives and then tell them where to burn.
In this Easter season we see worldwide that the transformation begun centuries ago continues. People who encountered by faith the risen Christ are boldly testifying of their faith in places like India, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Nigeria, China, Afghanistan, and even our own country – regardless of the cost. They realize that the Gospel, the good news, is for all nations. Those who are transformed by a dynamic encounter with the risen Savior are so changed by what Christ has done for them that they do not worry what others think or how others treat them for their faith. Paul describes those so transformed as being “a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Those who are part of that new creation just naturally love to share with others how this transformation has occurred. The catalyst for this transformation should not remain a mystery. He is the risen Jesus Christ and he should be the focal point of a transforming message.
In this season when there is at least a discussion of Jesus’ resurrection, may those who have been transformed by Jesus Christ “give a reason for the hope that lies within them” (1 Peter 3:15). For those who are curious about these who profess such claims, consider and investigate the claims for yourselves.
