Hope with Grace – Part Eleven
As I visit school communities, I’m immensely encouraged by the number of students who are taking their faith in Christ seriously. Many of them have a great passion that their friends and fellow students will enter a strong relationship with Jesus. Developing a school culture of “Hope with Grace” is important. The stories that we tell will influence that culture.
Maybe we could find some encouragement from the life of Charles Wesley.
Two months after his conversion in July 1738, Charles Wesley was so in love with Jesus that he felt compelled to tell people everywhere about the amazing grace and hope to be found in Christ. He, and a friend, decided to spend time with prisoners in Newgate prison.
They asked the authorities if they could be locked in overnight with the prisoners who were to be executed the next day. That night they shared the gospel; they told the men that Jesus was the Great Redeemer who had paid the price for sin.
The next day, the condemned men were loaded onto a cart and taken to Tyburn Gallows. Wesley went with them. Ropes were fastened around their necks so that the cart could be driven off and leave them swinging in the air to choke to death.
Wesley and his friend reported:
“They were all cheerful; full of comfort, peace, and triumph; assuredly persuaded that Christ had died for them, and waited to receive them into paradise…. One of the men… saluted me with his looks. As often as his eyes met mine, he smiled with the most composed, delightful countenance I ever saw.”
“We left them going to meet their Lord, ready for the Bridegroom. When the cart drove off, not one stirred, or struggled for life, but meekly gave up their spirits. I spoke a few suitable words to the crowd and returned, full of peace and confidence in our friends’ happiness. That hour under the gallows was the most blessed hour of my life.” [1]
Stories like these hold great encouragement for us. Firstly, the immense power of the Gospel message that speaks of the great love and redeeming grace of Jesus that brings eternal hope. Secondly, we must conclude that because of hope with grace, that these two men had great love for humanity and this contributed to their great courage.
Thirdly, they exhibited great faith, not in themselves but in God who called them. There can be no doubt that God put it in their hearts to do what they did; they were assured that whatever the outcome, this was God’s intention for them.
Let’s encourage meaningful conversations and story-telling with and amongst our students, together working out responsive discipleship.
Blessings,
Brian
[1] Wesley, Charles The journal of Charles Wesley (2 vols) , Baker Book House Michigan (1980) Vol 1 pp 120-123