Disciples Together -- A Message for May 22, 2022

 

This week, we have our annual observance of Jesus’ Ascension to heaven. During the 40 days after Easter, Jesus surprised his Disciples and followers by appearing in their midst. He showed them his scars from the cross. He taught them new things. He made sure they knew he forgave them for failing him. But, all good things come to an end. Jesus’ friends were still living in an in-between state. Jesus wanted them to move on with their lives and step up as the leaders he trained them to be. So, Jesus gave them a few final instructions, and then Jesus ascended to heaven, he moved on to another plane or dimension. Just before he left, Jesus told his followers the Holy Spirit was coming soon. They were to wait for the Holy Spirt and then follow the new direction God led them.

            Hear the story of the Ascension as it is written in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 1, verses 1 through 11:

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 

until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 

For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Here ends this reading of the word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayer for Understanding

Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

            Every year, in our lives before Covid-19, Lucia’s elementary school had a field day. The kids were divided into Spartans and Titans, white or green shirts, and compete. Most of the competitions were fun – water balloon relay races, stacking cups into the tallest towers, a giant tug- of-war. Everyone had to participate and the kids, though often drenched by the water relays and a tad sun burned, always seemed to have a good time.

            In order for the relay races to succeed, each child had to do their best after they received the baton or the water balloon. This morning, we read about Jesus’ passing the baton to his disciples. Jesus reached the point when he needed to move on to heaven, so he passed the baton to his disciples – he told them they would receive power from the Holy Spirit, and then they would become his witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. After he said this, Jesus was taken up into heaven, he left the earth.

            Jesus expected his disciples to pick up the baton, and to continue the work he started. He expected them to become evangelists, preachers, and healers. He knew they were destined to become the leaders of the Christian church, a church that was in its infancy.

            Our scriptures, especially those in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters that follow, testify to the work the disciples carried forward after Jesus’ departure. In two weeks, we will recall the first Christian Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit literally poured into the disciples and gave them additional gifts, like the ability to speak new languages. They learned from Jesus example, they were fortified, gifted, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and then they became the first Christian evangelists, preachers, healers, and pastors.

            This is our work too. As a community of faith, we strive to pass on our faith to the children and young people of our church. When we baptize young children, and when we Confirm young adults, we make promises to the young Christians. We promise them our friendship and prayers, we promise to share their hopes and labors as the Church of Jesus Christ, and we promise to work alongside them as we endeavor to share and live out the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our faith is communal – we are in this together. And, whether Christians are 6 years old or 60 years old, we need to support each other and help encourage each other.

            Jesus wasn’t like the leaders of modern countries or corporations. Instead of sticking to having one person at the top of the organization, Jesus passed the baton to eleven of his Disciples. They, in turn, passed the baton to hundreds of people, Christians like them. We are all encouraged to be fruitful, and to help multiply the faithful, and to spread the words of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Our work is to talk to others about what we believe and why we believe. Our work is to empower each other and encourage each other. We are called to all act like Disciples, to apply the teachings of God and Jesus in our lives, and to share those teachings with others. May we do so with love being our priority, because Jesus taught us the most important commandants are to love God and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

            May it be so. Amen.