John Wesley after 231 years: We remember him. – Deji Okegbeile

The Epitaph on Wesley’s tomb

John Wesley after 231 years: We remember him.

John Wesley died on March 2, 1791, “in his own house in London, in the eighty-eighth year of his age, after preaching the Gospel sixty-four years,” The epitaph on Wesley’s tomb is remarkable because it shares not only the story of his life and ministry, it shows how the obedience of one man facilitated a mighty awakening. Wesley, a great light that enlightened the nations and the world as his parish reminds us about the essence of Lent, a call to personal and corporate renewal.

John Wesley’s epitaph calls us to repentance and renewal today from complaining instead of obeying in order to overcome his fear about Methodism: ‘I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.’

John Wesley continues to teach us what it means to remain faithful and live fully as disciples of Jesus Christ in anticipation of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Church in general is in a time of spiritual hesitancy just as when Israel finally reached the border of the Promised Land, ten faithless spies brought back a bad report and cause them to hesitate. God is ready to lead the church we must not be afraid of the armies and giants and other oppositions to the Gospel. Fear causes a failure to obey God’s directions and commands. For us the church not to enter mission desert and an entire generation missing out on the blessings and promises of God, Wesley epitaph calls the church to repentance and renewal.

O Lord, renew us and deliver your church from the yoke of a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power.

Very Revd Deji Okegbeile,

Nigerian Methodist Chaplaincy, United Kingdom, Ireland