Blessed Witnesses

How many of us have ever left on a trip with teenagers or young adults in charge? Maybe it was with a sitter for a few hours. Perhaps it was a few days. Maybe it was dropping junior off for a week of camp or your baby in the dorm.

What were your final words of advice? Wait for and repeat answers

Those words were likely meant to inspire confidence and set a goal.

Similarly, before Jesus left, Luke records a scene where Jesus offers parting words to the Disciples. Acts 1:3 says that these events took 40 days, but here they are described in one scene in just 17 verses. They just may be the type of words you need to hear today.

Jesus Builds Confidence in Disciples (vv.36-46)

The New Bible Commentary summarizes this section as the physical person and the proof of his presence.

His resurrection was real & bodily (v.39 & 43)

1. “Jesus assures them that he is not an example of a ghost but of the bodily resurrection.”[i] (Craig Keener)

2. He invited them to touch and they watched Him taste. I guess sometimes “seeing (and even touching) is not believing”

3. “Angels did not eat earthly food. Spirits had no need for food.”[ii] (Craig Keener)

4. Scars were present on Jesus’ perfect body; therefore scars are NOT imperfections. Jesus doesn’t draw attention to his face (crown of thorns) or his back (scourging) or to his side that was pierced to prove that he was completely dead, but to the indications of his means of death—crucifixion.

5. Several times “deformities” were signs of blessing.

a. Mark on Cain, Gen 4:15

b. Jacob’s hip – Gen 32:25

c. Paul’s thorn in the flesh – 2 Cor 12:7 a messenger of Satan

d. Man born blind – John 9:3

There are two songs currently in rotation on Christian radio. [I realize that Christian songs are not Scripture. But they stir us emotionally in ways that we tend to remember.] One Song claims “I’m thankful for the scars, because without them I wouldn’t know your heart” and the other song claims “the only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now.” Maybe scars are only useful on earth to remind us and encourage us in this part of the journey. All I know is that the Bible often says that scars and maladies can point us to that which is good.

His death was planned & purposeful (v. 44 & 45)

1. Attested in each of the TNK – law, prophets, & writings (v.44)

2. V.45 reflects v.32 that scriptures that had been read, studied & memorized opened up.

3. “Although the Gospels report Jesus’ disagreement with his contemporaries on many issues, every stratum of Gospel tradition reports his appeal to the Old Testament to define his mission.”[iii] (Craig Keener)

4. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the people were impressed by the graciousness (Lk 4:22) and the authority (4:32, 36) of His teaching. The end of His ministry still has these inspiring characteristics (Lk 24:45).

5. His suffering AND resurrection are two sides of the same coin (v.46), two-acts of the same play, two chapters of the same story.

Interesting differences can be seen in historic crosses. These differences can be non-threatening ways to begin Gospel conversations. Most Roman crosses have a body affixed to the cross from the Latin cruci fixus, (“one fixed to a cross”). Most Orthodox crosses have a foot plate tipped to the right—indicating that one criminal found favor, while the other perished. Most Protestant (and military) crosses are unadorned—indicating that Jesus is no longer affixed to the cross. Without saying that one cross is better than another (Lutheran churches in Europe usually are crucifixes, while Lutheran churches in America usually are unadorned), simply asking if someone knows the 3 meanings can begin a conversation.

6. Around here you will only find unadorned crosses because we choose to emphasis that Christ is not dead, but He has risen, and we too rise to a new manner of life.

Application

· The reality of Christ’s bodily resurrection is meant to give confidence to those who spread His message!

Transition: Speaking of “spreading His message” the next verse goes on to say…

Jesus Bestows Commission on Disciples (vv.47-49)

NBC summarizes this section as preachingand power.

Experience equips Disciples (vv.47-48)

1. Jesus did not suffer and rise again simply so that we would be nice to each other. The goal of a church is not simply to fill the seats or balance the budget.

2. The goal of preaching is to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins in his name.

3. The parameters of preaching begin here, but is not complete until it reaches everyone, everywhere.

David Pao writes, “to all nations [eis panta ta ethnē], beginning from Jerusalem,” formulates Jesus’ final commission to the disciples in this Gospel. This statement should be read in the light of Jesus’ final commission in the book of Acts in Acts 1:8b, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth [heōs eschatou tēs gēs],” a text that alludes to Isa. 49:6: “I will give you [Yahweh’s Servant] as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth [eis sōtērian heōs eschatou tēs gēs].”[iv]

· The Gospel for Gentiles was not a new idea in Acts. It had been prophesied by Isaiah. It was promised in YHWH’s covenant with Abraham; and it was predicted in Genesis 3:20 by the plural all living.

4. The method of preaching is that we testify of these things—the suffering and resurrection of v.46, and the repentance for forgiveness in v. 47.

5. The tagline that shapes my ministry is that my goal is to make disciples of all in Chase County. My goal is not to get them to become members of our church. My goal is not to get people to say the sinner’s prayer. My goal is that every man, woman and child in the boundaries of our County would become like Jesus. When we are fully like Jesus, we have our eyes on a spiritual harvest in all nations.

The quote that is often attributed to Francis of Assisi actually cannot be found in his writings[v]. “Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” This is often used to communicate that kindness and respect are more important than the details of Christ crucified and risen for sin. The problem with that premise is that the Gospel cannot be proclaimed without words. Kindness, respect, grace, and mercy can be communicated without words, but those qualities are NOT the Gospel. There a many kind people who will spend eternity in Hell. There are respectful people who are currently under God’s wrath. You know people who extend grace to others who will be damned to perdition apart from the saving work of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit empowers Disciples (v.49)

1. The Gospel commission will not be complete based solely upon our personalities and efforts. The Father had promised in the Upper Room Discourse that He would send another (of the same kind as Jesus) Comforter to come alongside disciples.

2. Jesus promises here that when this Comforter comes alongside, the disciples would be clothed with power from on high.

3. We don’t need either the creativity of new methods, nor the familiarity of old time religion! If we are going to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations, we need Holy Ghost power!

4. His power from on high is the only factor that will bring heart change to us and those to whom we witness.

Transition: The Confidence and the Commission we have received leads to a beautiful outcome where…

Blessing Flows & Returns (vv.50-53)

NBC summarized this as the parting blessing.

Jesus blesses Disciples (vv.50-51)

1. Jesus’ final blessing brings joy because it is rooted in the promise of God and His indwelling presence through the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Jesus demonstrated (v. 39) that He was not a Spirit, but He promised that a Spirit is on the way who will comfort and empower!

Disciples bless God (vv.52-53)

1. When I read this passage in my devotions a few weeks ago, I couldn’t believe that the disciples would actually go back to the very temple that was run by those who had crucified Christ. I thought there is a strong message in that fact about our need to find ways to fellowship with others who may not dot their theological I’s or cross their theological T’s the same way we do. Do we look for an excuse to break fellowship, or do we seek to build bridges whenever possible. Even if we may be maligned or mistreated, do we seek to build peace.

2. Then I read a commentary that pointed out this Gospel begins with Zachariah praising God in the Temple for what He is about to do. And here the disciples are praising God for what He is about to do. Acts (Luke’s volume 2) describes how God empowers the disciples so that the message of this Gospel could spread. – The Temple blessing is a literary frame to Jesus’ story within the bigger narrative of God’s work among humanity.

Application

God’s work continues and we should be marked by the same worship, joy and continuous blessing of God.

Conclusion:

God provides encouragement, equipping, and energy for any task He assigns.

He will NEVER set you up to fail!

And He has sent us on a mission that begins here and reaches to everyone, everywhere.

Song of Response #296 “We’ve a Story to Tell”

Benediction: Philippians 4:23 (ESV) — The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

[i] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition. (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 244. [ii] Ibid., 244. [iii] Ibid., 244. [iv] David W. Pao and Eckhard J. Schnabel, “Luke,” in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, UK: Baker Academic; Apollos, 2007), 401. [v] https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/factchecker-misquoting-francis-of-assisi/