John V Taylor, a former leader of CMS, once said, “Look to the fringes. Watch the things that are pushing out on the edge.”
Jesus intentionally sought out people on the margins and made them part of his story.
And today, the risen Jesus is still going to the edges: in the Middle East, in DR Congo, in Ukraine, across Britain and in so many other places and spaces.
It’s our great privilege to follow him and see him working, bringing new life. That’s why we love to say “There is life at the edges!”
Even when the world feels overwhelmed by shadow, new, living hope is rising where we least expect it.
Transcript
Hello friends and Happy Easter! He is risen!
I’ll say it again: He is risen!
Throughout Lent this year, CMS has been focusing on Jesus’ encounters with people at the edges, the edges of religious acceptability, the edges of society at the time, and the edges of many of the disciples’ comfort zones.
We’ve seen how Jesus intentionally welcomed people such as a severely disabled woman who could not even stand up straight, or people with leprosy, or outsiders like tax collectors, or others considered to be “sinners”.
Jesus paid special attention to these people, he brought healing to them and he made them part of his story.
So much so, that today, two thousand years later, we get to read about them and be challenged to keep the kind of company Jesus keeps.
A huge thank you to those of you who have been journeying with us in this, through our Lent email series, Fringe Dweller. We hope you have found it meaningful to look at these stories and consider how you might keep following Jesus to the edges in your life.
One thing that’s crucial to understand is that we are not called to the edges out of a sense of pity – we go to the edges out of a sense of possibility.
Jesus looked at someone like the Gerasene demoniac – and he saw a disciple, someone who, once healed, could take the good news of Jesus far and wide.
And it’s the same for us in CMS today.
We love to say there is life at the edges because it’s true.
We are seeing victims of horrendous violence become voices for peace in South Sudan and DR Congo.
We are seeing indigenous Christians in Latin America – once considered second-class citizens, rising up to become passionate leaders who are imparting the gospel to the next generation.
We are seeing marginalised women in the Middle East playing a key role helping others discover the love of Jesus.
And the list goes on and on. You see? There is life at the edges!
You might be looking at the state of the world right now, and be tempted to despair. Violence, poverty and oppression continue to push people to the edges. But new hope is rising, often where you might least expect to find it.
For example, just over a year ago we watched in horror as Goma, DR Congo was seized by the M23 rebel group, leading to chaos, bloodshed and fear. Yet, in the past year we have seen local Christians in DR Congo stepping up and bearing witness to Christ, offering help and hope to thousands. Our Easter appeal highlights this.
Yes, things are still incredibly difficult in Goma, but hope is breaking through. Because Jesus loves people at the edges.
I think of how after Jesus’ crucifixion, his disciples were devastated. Bewildered. Lost. And then – there he was!
It’s wonderful to remember that, just as he drew near to people at the edges before he died and rose again, Jesus continues to dwell with people on the fringes after his resurrection, too.
The first witnesses to the resurrection were women. He came to those who were broken in spirit and fearful, those who were full of doubt and traumatised, to Peter, who had denied him.
The risen Jesus still does this today.
He’s still choosing to appear to people at the edges and he’s still working through people at the edges to redeem the whole world back to wholeness.
A pastor and hip-hop artist called Trip Lee once wrote:
“I don’t know the future.
I don’t know the answers to every big question.
I don’t know why everything happens the way it does. But I know Jesus got up.
And that changes EVERYTHING.”
I pray that today, if you are struggling, you’ll allow the reality of Jesus’ resurrection to bring you profound joy.
Our struggles are not the end of the story. New hope is rising. We just have to know where to look.
As my predecessor John V Taylor advised: “Look to the fringes. Watch the things that are pushing out on the edge.”
I’ll close now with these words from Scripture; let’s read them together:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
Once again, happy Easter to you.
Truly, God is with us.
