|
Morning Worship - 5/4/08 - The Day Jesus Said Good-bye to the Apostles
Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11
In our church there is a scripture verse. It’s from one of the Apostle Paul’s letters to the church in Corinth.
Here’s the verse: “We shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51)
For the longest time, I could not figure out why this verse of scripture is framed and mounted and hanging on the wall in the our nursery. It just seemed too theological for the nursery – it seemed out place like finding dog food in the produce section of the grocery store. It didn’t make sense.
Well, as Bob Leuthold has been working the heating and cooling project, I’ve had more occasion than usual to be in the nursery, following him around like a puppy dog as he’s explained things. And I gotta tell you, I now understand that verse and why it’s there in the nursery.
Babies who won’t sleep and babies who need to be changed – it all makes perfect sense to have that verse underneath a picture of a chubby-cheeked baby hanging on the wall of our nursery. It’s like seeing a ‘caution’ sign about what may and or may not happen when working in our nursery: Not all the babies brought to the nursery will sleep; but there’s a very good chance every baby will need a diaper change.
Now I’ve never claimed to be the brightest bulb in the lighting department. Some might even say my porch light flickers a bit – OK, a lot. But I genuinely laughed when I finally figured out what I was looking at in the nursery and why it was there.
Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe my sense of humor is more warped than I can explain as to why I thought 1 Corinthians 15:51 was an appropriate and funny verse to hang in the nursery. Maybe the person who hung that picture intended no humor what-so-ever. I’ve tried to find out who might have hung it – really, I did. So I apologize if I’m complete off base with my interpretation of why this picture with this scripture verse hangs on a wall in our nursery. If I’ve offended the giver, I am truly sorry.
Come to think of it, I’m either in a ‘win-win’ situation or a ‘no win’ dilemma.
What I mean is… I’ve expressed appreciation for what hangs in the nursery. And I’ve enjoyed laughing at myself for, first, not getting it and then for it taking so long for me to get it. I hope whoever gave the photo accepts my appreciation for the gift of what hangs as well as the gift of a delightful sense of humor. That’s the ‘win-win.’
Here’s the ‘no win.’ Now that I’ve gone public with enjoying the humor it took me so long to discover, what if the giver never intended for there to be anything funny about it? Even though I find humor, I’m not mocking the one who gave the photo. The giver is perhaps being serious and my comment reveals just the opposite. Even if I say “I appreciate the gift of the photo” I’m not receiving it in the intended manor. Nor can I compliment the giver on the nugget of theological wisdom because I’ve already professed that I think it’s funny.
Here’s the rest of the story: Many years ago, Bob Vander Schaff gave that photo of a chubby baby and the scripture from 1 Corinthians to Sandi De Bruin and asked her to put it in a fame. It was then hung in the nursery. I t was, indeed, intended to be humorous. My sense is that Bob was perhaps wanting to put a smile on those who were willing to perform nursery duty. He wasn’t, however, trying to make light of the importance of child care.
Just like it took me a bit of time to grasp the intended meaning of the picture and caption that hangs in the nursery, I wonder if the same can be said about the Ascension of Jesus? Do we get it? Do we understand what goes along with the Ascension of Jesus? We get Christmas, we understand Easter. But do we understand that without the ascension of Jesus, it’s like the power company disconnecting our electrical service?
When Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles (that it, those original disciples chosen by Christ to preach his gospel) were in a ‘win-win’ situation even though every appearance of the situation gave the impression of a ‘no win’ predicament. At first, the closest Followers of Jesus were none to eager to see him go. The disciples had just gotten used to Jesus coming back from the dead when he tells them he has to leave – this time, for good.
During the forty days he was on earth following his Easter Sunday resurrection, Jesus presented himself alive to his disciples in many different settings. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. They met and ate meals together. It was important to Jesus to spend this quality time with his disciples. It was important for their faith that they understand his ascension.
While it’s incredibly significant and important to our faith, too, Ascension Day has not garnered the same weigh as holidays like Christmas or Easter. Who, for instance, received or sent out Ascension Day cards? Hallmark has not found a way to capitalize on the event of Jesus’ ascension.
Have we?
Jesus said to his disciples: "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled."
Then he went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."
He promised them something better than his earthly presence: He promised them the presence of the Holy Spirit to equip them with power!
But his ascension also meant some other very important things for the disciples and for us: Now in heaven, Jesus pleads our cause in the presence of his Father. He’s our advocate – our supporter, our promoter – the One who appeals on our behalf before God. He’s our personal ambassador to make certain God doesn’t forget about us – as if that were even possible.
Jesus was both truly human and truly God. He was everything in human-form and everything in God-form. In his human nature Christ is not now on earth;but in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is not absent from us for a moment. So secondly, because we now have our own flesh in heaven, we also have a guarantee that Christ will take us to himself in heaven. Someone ‘in the flesh’ has gone before us into heaven. If we had any doubts or questions about God welcoming humans in heaven, Christ’s presence at the right hand of his Father and our Father squelched any and all arguments. He went into heaven before us to prepare a place for us. Through faith in Jesus as Savior, we will be welcome in heaven.
And by sending his Spirit to us on earth, we have a further guarantee.By the Spirit's power we make the goal of our lives, not earthly things, but the things above where Christ is, sitting at God's right hand. Being in the world but not of it is not an easy task. Working with Jesus in God’s Kingdom on earth is grueling work. Having our minds transformed to things above is beyond our ability even when we’re having a good day on earth. But by the power of the Spirit, our goals change. We experience an extreme make-over by the power of the Spirit so that we can think about Kingdom things instead of merely earthly things.
Just what kind of power are we talking about?
The biblical word for power is ‘dunamis’ and dunamis is the root work for dynamite. The day Jesus said good-bye to the Apostles he said they would be equipped with dynamite from on high. That’s the kind of power we’re talking about.
That kind of power would not be ours if there had been no ascension.
View previous sermons here... (258 total)
|
