A New Witness

Context

Easter theme: All Things New.

New faith, worship, hope, security, way of life…

Today: A New Witness.

Our lesson comes from the end of the Gospel of Luke.

Over the past 40 days, the risen Jesus been appearing to his disciples. With the purpose of convincing them of his bodily resurrection — which he has done — and teaching them that his death and resurrection are the fulfillment of God’s plan in the Scriptures.

In our lesson today, we will here Jesus summarize this ministry, then leading his disciples to the outskirts of Jerusalem, he will ascend into heaven before their eyes. Especially notice that before he ascends, he commissions his disciples to a task.

Text

Luke 24:44–53 ESV

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Introduction

A witness is someone who has seen, heard, or experienced something about which they can give testimony.

Criminal cases. Come right to mind. Courtroom. Witness called forward. I heard him say. I saw her do that. From this testimony, a jury has to make a decision.

Celebratory events too.

Last week the happy occasion of a baptism. (Lydia)

Baptismal certificate. Signatures of two elders.

Was I ever baptized…?

Two people who saw and heard the baptism, testify to it.

Christians understand themselves to be witnesses to the most important, most positive, event that has ever happened or ever will happen:

An event that enable people to make a life-changing decision.

Look at our story…

Exegesis

Jesus is about to ascend into heaven. His ascension will conclude his earthly, incarnate ministry.

He has completed his part, as it were.

Jesus looks back. He has accomplished the plan of God set before him. Although he was the holy Son of God, he came into the world, he suffered the just punishment of sin, which is death, on behalf of all sinners, and then rose from the dead to open the way for all people to reunion with God.

The Law, the prophets, the psalms — whole OT — were pointing to Christ, and HAVE BEEN fulfilled by his suffering, death, and resurrection. DONE.

Jesus looks forward to what yet needs to happen. This message of repentance and forgiveness must proclaimed to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. This redemption is not just for Jews — It is for the whole world.

As God promised to Abraham, the father of the Jews: “In you (i.e. through your descendent Jesus the Christ) all the nations of the earth shall be blessed!”

God’s vision, which Jesus sees: ALL who turn from sin and trust in Jesus, can be forgiven and reconciled to God.

The doorway between these two realities — What Christ has done, and what must still happen — hinges upon the apostles.

Jesus says to them: You are witnesses OF these things.

The apostles are witness OF what Has happened.

When Son of God took on flesh and dwelt among us. Mary experienced it.

When Jesus preached, the Kingdom of God is at hand! The 12 heard it.

When Jesus was transfigured on the Mountain: Peter, James and John were there.

When Jesus broke bread and gave wine, saying this is my body and blood, to this in remembrance of me. They all ate and drank with him.

When he was crucified, some scattered and some beheld him on the cross… thus together they experienced their sin and their savior.

When he was raised from the dead, they gathered back by him, and they talked with him and saw him and touched his eternal flesh.

Thus John writes in his letter:

1 John 1:1–2 “That which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, [the very] word of life— [that we] testify to and proclaim to you…”

The apostles saw, heard, and experienced Jesus’ ministry.

Pivoting forward: The apostles are to be witnesses TO others about it.

Your are witnesses SO THAT repentance and forgiveness should be proclaimed in his name to all the nations.

The apostles are part of the Divine plan.

The Father sent the Son to win redemption. Check.

The Son appoints his apostles to tell everyone about it. Check.

The Holy Spirit will come and give them power to proclaim it to the whole world. Check coming next Sunday on Pentecost.

Jesus did his earthly ministry. Goes up in heaven. Now his ministry on earth continues through the witness of his disciples.

A grander reach than he could have as one man.

The one trained 12. The 12 will go out in the power of the spirit to multiply.

The one body of Christ is replaced by the many bodies of the disciples, who collectively became the new body of Christ in the world, the church.

The apostles became witnesses. They proclaimed Christ.

Peter on Pentecost: Christ is risen from the dead: Repent of your sins and be forgiven.

Peter wrote in his letters: we are not offering you myths, and metaphors, and speculations! We are eyewitnesses of his majesty and saw his glory and heard the voice from heaven, and you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place! (2 Peter 1:16)

And people believed. They repented of their sins and were reconciled to God, were baptized, and had their own spiritual experience of God…and in turn became witnesses themselves to yet others!

The church, the collective witnesses to Christ, has grown down through the ages and come to us.

Interpretation

Christians today continue to understand themselves as witnesses OF what God has done

We read the Bible. The Law, the Prophets, the Psalms, and added now the Gospels and letters, and NT, Tells the story.

Even more: we experience Jesus teaching us through the Spirit:

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Have you ever encountered Christ through Scripture: Can I get a witness: Amen!

We gather to worship God. Jesus Christ is present through the preaching, sacraments, and community.

Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.””

Have you even experienced Christ at Church: Can I get a witness: Amen!

We point to our lives and say, Here is something that Christ forgave, here is something that Christ has healed.

John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

Has Christ worked in your personal life? Can I get a witness? Amen!

All of this is what God has done. We are witnesses OF it.

Pivot

Christians are also witnesses TO the world around us.

Book of Order: In Christ, the Church participates in God’s mission to the world. Jesus is in heaven, but the evangelism of the world continues through his disciples, us:

… by proclaiming to all people the good news of God’s love,

…offering to all people the grace of God at font and table,

…and calling all people to discipleship in Christ.

WHY? Human beings have no higher goal in life than to glorify and enjoy God now and forever.

World says, what has God ever done for us? Saying: need a witness!.

Enter Christian witness. I’ve seen, I’ve heard, I’ve experienced.

I can share it with you:

John 3:16 ““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” SAY IT WITH ME!

The greatest most important event that has ever happened, that will ever happen.

Christians understand that by being witnesses they make something possible for other people that was not previously possible: a choice. By presenting the good news to the world around us, we give people the chance to know God through Christ. We present to the world the opportunity for blessing:

John 20:29 “Jesus said…Blessed are those who have not seen (me) and yet have believed.””

Application

If you are a Christian. Your are a witness.

You are MY witness says Jesus.

You have seen and heard the gospel story…

Even more valuable. Your own experience of Jesus.

One of you shared this week. I have been going through a hard time, at the end of my rope…prayed and gave it to God. Jesus said, simply yet clearly: I am with you. Peace washed over me. What is that other than direct experience?

Every time he consoles, guides, corrects, disciplines,…that is contact with Christ through his spirit.

You are witnesses OF Christ.

Pivot.

Your are Witnesses TO the world.

When people say, what has God ever done? I’m not sure I even believe in God. What they are really saying is, I need a witness.

They need someone who can say, I have seen and heard and experienced and can share with you something real.

They need you.

1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to [witness] to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

When you share, you are part of what God is doing to reach out to the people around you.

Right now, I am witnessing to you. Sometimes after worship service, one of you will say to me, God really spoke to me today through your sermon.

Who spoke: Jason did…miraculously GOD DID!

The same is true when you talk about your experience of Christ…with each other, with family and friends, with co-workers. God speaks through you.

I will give you the word.

and the door to a new future swings open.

What a joy to know that you are part of God’s mission to raise someone up to the highest calling a human can received: To know and glorify and enjoy God now and forever!

And what a joy to know that God takes the small seeds of our witness and plants them to grow into a great harvest.

Jesus taught 12. Then he went to heaven.

Those 12 he left behind have impacted all of us and millions more.

One day you will go to heaven. Before you do, you can open hearts and minds. You may share with 1, 12, 100.

The people you leave behind, will carry forward your witness to others…and they to others still, to the whole world.

Luke 10:2 “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, …. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Conclusion

Jesus send us out.

You are witnesses.

Witnesses OF Christ.

Witnesses TO the world.

When the world says, what has God ever done? What they are really saying is, I need a witness….Can I get a witness? AMEN!