On the Ground with the One Project – Report 7

By Maylan Schurch, February 15, 2016: William Johnsson, prolific author, teacher and former editor of the Adventist Review, is speaking at this moment on “The Meaning of the Death of Jesus.” “I praise God for The One Project,” he said as he began. “Don’t take this wrong,” he continued, “you’re all wonderful people. But you’re all one color. I hope that when we meet in San Diego next year there’ll be some other colors!”
People followed Jesus all through Palestine, and kept on following him until he said, “It is finished.” And now it’s Sabbath, and Jesus of Nazareth is dead. His body is cold and rigid. The Jews did not bury their dead, they entombed them, and a few months later when the flesh had rotted away they stored the bones in bone-boxes, ossuaries. This was to have been the fate of Jesus.
It is at Jesus’ death that his story begins. Not in the manger. Stephen Covey said, “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.” Paul says that Jesus’ death for our sins is the main thing.

Dylis Brooks
Dilys Brooks is associate chaplain of Loma Linda University, but preaches all over the world. She spoke about Mary’s discovery that Jesus was not in tomb—and her eventual discovery that he was her “Rabbi.” When Mary wept while she wiped Jesus’ feet at the feast, her tears were happy, grateful ones. But the tears she wept at the tomb were because Jesus’ body was gone. Once the angels leave her, she remains in the garden, and Jesus arrives and asks, “Why are you crying? Whom are you seeking?” Mary came looking for a dead Savior, to embalm him, but she came face to face with the Resurrection and the Life.
“The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers….” (Eph. 4:11) I have been waiting for a long time growing up Adventist… I had my share of evangelists, pastors and teachers. Like I said I have been waiting ….so I was blown away this week and humbled when I recognized all the Apostles that were present, thank you Jesus and finally a prophetic voice that just grabbed a hold of me in a big way. Japhet you are my Apostle and Dilys you are my Prophet….go girl go! I came to the gathering in Seattle very confused about my church, what was happening and where it was headed, I left with a clear sense of the big picture and that in the midst of the storm something good is happening. I need to stop worrying about what others are doing, not look around but look up. What can I do to serve Jesus in my local church. And we left with this Blessing: May Jesus bless you with gentleness and a heart that is tender. May Jesus bless you with strength against all principalities. May Jesus bless you with compassion and care. May Jesus bless you with courage, daring to be who you are. May Jesus bless you with openness, understanding and respect. may Jesus bless you with power to make Jesus all.