Hope Lutheran Church
Manhattan, Kansas May 12, 2024 Acts 1:1–11 Here we are. It’s our first time meeting for a full service at All Faiths Chapel. That all by itself is a pretty big change and transition. But I don’t doubt that along the way we’ll learn new things about meeting here. I don’t doubt that there will be some things to iron out as we get familiar with gathering here. We’ve already had one big transition, and I’m sure there will be more smaller transitions in the weeks and months ahead. And really, that’s okay. We don’t have to have every last detail figured out to continue as a congregation meeting in a new place. We don’t have to pretend that everything is exactly the same as it used to be. And you know why I think that’s okay? I think it’s okay because of what we see happening to the church on the day Jesus ascended into heaven. Because what happened on Ascension? Jesus went up into heaven. He wasn’t going to be in the world in the same way he had been for the three years when he had been doing ministry with his disciples in Israel. And so, Ascension is like the first step in a pretty big change in Jesus’ church on earth. But that didn’t mean Jesus’ work was done. Because Ascension reminds us and tells us that… 1) JESUS HAS MORE WORK TO DO… 2) AND HE ENTRUSTS THAT WORK TO HIS PEOPLE… 3) SO NOW WE GET TO WORK! 1) JESUS HAS MORE WORK TO DO The Book of Acts starts with these words: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach.” And that’s kind of an interesting way to start, right? It kind of begs a question: What’s the “former book” that is being referred to here? I like to think of the Book of Acts as Volume Two which goes with another book written by the same person who wrote Acts – the Gospel of Luke. Both those books of the Bible – Luke and Acts – were written by the same person – Doctor Luke. The first Volume, the Gospel of Luke, is Doctor Luke’s account of the life and ministry of Jesus. And Luke so carefully goes through and recounts Jesus’ life for us. And then he wrote the Book of Acts. And what’s the thing that unites them? Maybe it’s stating the obvious, but it’s Jesus. Notice again how Luke starts: “In my former book, I wrote about all that Jesus BEGAN to do and to teach.” What's the implication about the Book of Acts Luke is making right away? The implication is that Jesus’ work isn’t done. There’s still work that needs to happen. It continues. And that’s something we need to remember and be reminded of. Because the work of Jesus is still ongoing and continues to this very day. Yes, salvation is accomplished. Yes, Jesus has done everything for us. But now what? What's next? It’s the rest of what Jesus is doing. And that’s what we get in the Book of Acts. It’s Jesus continuing to bring the Gospel into people’s lives. He’s still telling people that they’re saved and how they’re saved. It’s just that Ascension marks a transition. It’s different. Jesus still has work to do, but instead of Jesus physically doing the work himself… 2) JESUS ENTRUSTS THAT WORK TO HIS PEOPLE Now, hopefully, this isn’t a surprise to anyone, but today is Mother’s Day. And it’s great to have a day like today where we celebrate moms, and appreciate what our moms have done. Because so often moms do so much to care for their children. They do everything they can to protect their children and make sure they’re on the right path. They do what they can to make sure that their children are heading in the right direction as they go into the world. But imagine a mom sending her children off to school and pushing them out of the house even though they aren’t ready for it yet. Imagine a mom taking her 5-year-old and sending them off to high school. That’d be crazy, right? A mom would never do that kind of thing! And the truth is, you wouldn’t do that kind of thing for anyone if you had something important for them to do. You wouldn’t send someone to go and do something important that they weren’t fully and completely prepared for. You’d send someone who’s well-trained, who knows everything. And so it’s kind of crazy is what Jesus does. Jesus said to his disciples just before he ascended into heaven: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The thing that’s surprising, though, is the kind of people Jesus entrusts this work to and when he sends them out. Cause here Jesus is right about to ascend into heaven and leave his apostles to spread the good news of the gospel, and they show that they still don’t totally and completely get it yet. They say to Jesus “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” After three years of being with Jesus – after seeing him suffer, die, be buried, and rise – after seeing all of that, the disciples are still struggling a bit. They were still slow to understand what Jesus had really come to do and what his work had really been all about. If it were me, I would have stopped right there. I would have turned around and said, “Alright, we got to do a little bit more training here. We’ve got to make sure you’re good on everything before I send you out into the world because clearly, you’re not ready yet.” But what does Jesus do? He continues his Ascension into heaven. The question is “Why?” If Jesus still has work to do in the world, why does he leave it in the hands of imperfect people? Who still struggle sometimes? There are probably a whole bunch of answers to that question. There are probably answers and reasons that God has for doing it that way that I can’t even wrap my mind around. But I can think of at least two reasons why Jesus entrusts the work of the Church to imperfect people and people who struggle sometimes: For one, it makes the messengers bring the message so relatable. Don’t hear me wrong – I’m not saying that if Jesus were here, he wouldn't be able to communicate his message to people perfectly. He 100% would be. And I’m not saying that Jesus couldn’t send someone better. He certainly could. But by sending out people who struggle, who have their flaws, who have their faults, and yet continue to preach the gospel that they know they need just as much as anyone else, just think of how relatable that would make their presentation and witness of the gospel and the message of Jesus. Think of when Peter undoubtedly met someone who fell into temptation again and again. Think about how Peter could tell a person like that they’re forgiven. That Jesus is still for them. And he could tell them that because he knew it for himself and had experienced it. Think of Paul. Before he became the greatest missionary in the history of the church, Paul was a horrible person. He hunted down Christians and killed them. He did terrible things throughout his life. Even terrible things in opposition to the church. But then, think about when Paul met people who had done horrible things. Maybe even terrible things to the church and God’s people. He could tell them they were forgiven, that Jesus was still for them. And he could tell them that because he knew it for himself and had experienced it. Each of us has our own unique life circumstances, our own story that's brought us to where we are today. Each of us has our own failures and sins. But each of us knows that we’ve been forgiven, that Jesus has lived, died, and risen for us. And maybe there’s someone out there who can relate to you. Who’s been through something similar to what you’ve been through. Who struggles with the same things you struggle with, but doesn't know Jesus yet. What if you could be the one to share the gospel with them? What if you could be the one to tell them that they’re forgiven because of Jesus? What if you could tell them that Jesus is for them? And you could tell them that because you know it for yourself and have experienced it firsthand. By sending out imperfect people, Jesus was giving his Church the opportunity to go and meet more imperfect people. People who need the gospel just as badly as you and I do. And there’s another reason for it – to show that when it comes down it, this isn’t about us and our skill and our ability. It’s not about the messenger, but rather infinitely more about the message. By sending out imperfect people, Jesus was showing everyone that the Church wouldn’t rely on any one apostle or disciple or pastor or any other singular person. He was showing that it was all about him and the work that he was going to continue to do through his people, through the church. Yes, his people would be and still are his arms and his feet in his face in the world but at the end of the day, it always goes back to what Jesus began to do and continues to do. Jesus chose imperfect people so you might know that this isn’t just some story. This isn’t just good life advice. This is a message from God, a message that endures, no matter how imperfect the people are. Jesus has more work to do. And he has chosen to entrust that work to his people… 3) SO NOW WE GET TO WORK! And I mean that in two ways. I mean we get to – we have the privilege – to work. Jesus could have chosen so many other ways to do it. But he said he wants you and me to be the ones to deliver the goods of the gospel to people. He wants to give us the chance and opportunity to watch as the gospel is shared, maybe with someone for the first time in their life. We now get to go join with Jesus on his mission. And so what do we do? We get to work – we actually do what Jesus is sending us out to do. And I think I have to be reminded that that’s what Jesus has called and asked me to do. Because sometimes I can be like those disciples staring up into the clouds. What do I mean? I mean that I can find myself just wanting Jesus to come back and do it all himself. I mean that can find myself staring up into the clouds just waiting for Jesus take all of us to be with him forever in heaven. Because I know how hard this work can be. And I know how hard this world can be. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with wanting Jesus to return. Sometimes we even pray something like “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.” But if that’s all I ever do – if all we ever do is find ourselves looking at the clouds, waiting for Jesus to come back – we might miss out on the opportunities all around us and right next to us. And so sometimes I need someone to wake me up a little bit. I need my eyes to be brought back to ground level to the situation all around me. That’s what those disciples needed after Jesus ascended into heaven, right? Cause what were they doing? “Jesus 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.” And what happens? “Suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee, 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.’” It’s like those angels were telling the disciples: “There’s work to be done! There are people who need you. There are people who don’t even know that Jesus has come let alone that he’s going to come back someday. Besides, Jesus will come back when he comes and when he’s supposed to. Until then, there’s work to be done!” And so what did the disciples do? They got to work. Because Jesus still had work to do and he was going to use them to get it done. Jesus still has work to do today. And the way he’s chosen to do that is through you, his people. He wants us to join him in that work. May God bless our efforts as we work not for ourselves, but for our ascended Savior. Amen! Comments are closed.
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