Insight

You Are Blessed Witnesses

5.29.22 [Luke 24:44-53] River of Life (The Ascension Of Our Lord)

He had spent half his life, 22 years, in this profession. And he had summited its pinnacle many, many times. He had all the records. He had the respect of all his peers. He had even proven to his doubters that he could win the big one in a new place. To most, Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. So on February 1st, when he announced his retirement, even his most loyal fans understood. He had given the game so much. Left his mark on the record books. Doubled the accomplishments of his boyhood hero, Joe Montana. Made a lot of money, too. Why risk any more injuries?

When he announced his retirement, Tom Brady said he wanted to spend more time with wife and three children. There were rumors that the major networks were ready to pay him handsomely to be a broadcaster, too. Tom was set up to have it all in retirement.

And then forty days later, he announced that he was coming back to play quarterback for a 23rd season. Why? It can’t be for the money. It can’t be that there is anything left for him to do on the field that he hasn’t already done before. It must be that during those 40 days, he had some doubts about retiring. Some regrets. It must be that during that month and a half, Tom’s second thoughts persuaded him to the take the field for a 23rd season. It must be that there is still some glory for him out on the football field that he just can’t find anywhere else.

Tom Brady coming out of retirement also didn’t really surprise anyone, too much. When people make big decisions like that—walking away from it all when they’re still really good—there will be second guessing. You don’t have to be Tom Brady to experience that.

During your lifetime, you’ve probably made some big decisions—life-altering choices—that in the moment, and maybe even shortly after, you wondered if you did the right thing. Maybe it was taking that new job. Maybe it was getting married or moving to a new place. Perhaps it was retiring. You had second thoughts, doubts, and even fears, and you were the one who made those choices.

Today, as we gather together to celebrate Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, it’s natural for us, who are sitting on the sidelines, to second guess our Savior for ascending into heaven. Maybe we question the timeline: only 40 days after his Resurrection? Maybe we question the reason: why does Jesus have to leave his disciples and us at all?

But as Jesus prepares all those who love him for his departure, he reminds them of what he had spent the last 3 years teaching them: (Lk 24:44) Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Then he offers them a quick summary of his life’s mission. (Lk. 24:46) The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Look at that list Jesus provides closely and ask yourself why does Jesus include these things? (Lk. 24:46) The Messiah will suffer. Check. The Messiah (Lk. 24:46) will rise from the dead on the third day. Check. Christ crucified & risen from the grave are the historical facts on which the church builds her hope. (Lk. 24:46) Repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. That last one was still yet to be done.

It’s not that it had not been started. Jesus’ preaching centered on this truth. (Mk. 2:15) Repent and believe the good news. He had been (Lk. 24:46) preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins for three years. But now it would be done (Lk. 24:46) in his name. To all nations. Beginning at Jerusalem. By these disciples that he had taught and trained for the past 3 years. Now, they were his witnesses.

Of course, there are many reasons we might think the disciples wouldn’t be such great witnesses. For one, when Jesus was on trial they were not willing to stand there and defend Jesus. Two, even after his resurrection, they were still afraid of persecution. Finally, we might wonder what qualifications a bunch of (Acts 4:13) unschooled, ordinary men have to be preachers of (Lk. 24:46) repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But they aren’t the only ones called to be witnesses that we have some questions and doubts about, are they?

We are not eye-witnesses of the resurrection in the same way that the Apostles were. But we know what they saw. We know what they said. We know how Christ lived, died, and rose to secure the forgiveness of sins for each of us. We know (Jn. 5:39) the Scriptures that testify about Jesus (Jn. 20:31) so that we might believe in him & have life in his name.

When Jesus (Lk. 24:45) opened the minds of his disciples so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they could better understand the Scriptures and connect the dots of the Old Testament prophecies to the person and work of Christ Jesus, we are the direct beneficiaries. Because of the work the Holy Spirit would do in and through these men, we are blessed with the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. We know God.

But at times, we are timid & hesitant, just like them. Jerusalem was the last place they likely wanted to go. Jerusalem was the city that Jesus longed to gather under his wings, but they were not willing. Jerusalem consistently (Lk. 13:35) killed the Lord’s prophets. Jerusalem was the place the disciples begged Jesus not to go, the place where they crucified (Acts 3:15) the Author of Life. For a number of reasons, Jerusalem seemed like a lost cause.

Do you ever feel timid when it comes to your witnessing work? Maybe a particular place has been particularly uninterested, hard-headed, or even hostile to the Gospel. Maybe, at some point in the past, you have shared the Gospel with that friend, that neighbor, or that co-worker and things have gotten awkward or uncomfortable. Perhaps they dismissed you outright and said they weren’t the church going type. Or they asked a good question that you felt like you didn’t have a good answer to. Maybe they were more than a little combative.

It’s really easy to look at that individual as someone you tried and failed to witness to. And they may not be alone on your list. Because the witnessing work Jesus calls us to is more than sharing the fact that Jesus lived, died, & rose from the grave. It is calling people to (Lk. 24:46) repentance so that they might receive the forgiveness of sins.

Do you have someone who has sinned against you that you are afraid of addressing? That witnessing work is far more demanding than going up to some neighbor or stranger and inviting them to church, isn’t it? Maybe you’ve convinced yourself it’s not that big of a deal. It’s something that you just have to let slide. The question is not: Did the sin bother or hurt me? The question is: Is it sin? Perhaps, you’ve talked to them about it and they gave you the cold-shoulder or pointed out some sin of yours to try and divert and discourage you.

But think about whom this serves. When we stop testifying about Jesus because a particular place has seemed uninterested, hard-headed, or hostile to the Gospel we give the devil reason to celebrate. When we sidestep rebuking sinners because we don’t think they will respond well, we are denying the power of God and his Word.

We are witnesses. Remember what that means. Good witnesses don’t choose to testify because they think what they say will be rewarded. Witnesses testify because they saw something that must be shared.

Witnesses don’t even have to have expertise, either. They speak about what they saw and heard. They share their experience.

Sometimes, reluctant witnesses are forced to testify. They are subpoenaed—compelled to testify or be found in contempt of court. If an earthly court can subpoena you, the Judge of the Living and the Dead could certainly do the same. But he doesn’t. Instead he gives us his blessing.

We will cover this more in two weeks, but let this be a little teaser. A blessing is a good word spoken directly to someone. God’s blessing is God’s wise, powerful, good word spoken directly to you. God has given you his blessing. The One with (Eph. 1:19) incomparably great power has given you his blessing. He has promised that he is now (Eph. 1:22) ruling all things for the good of the church. He has promised that he is now (Rom. 8:28) working out all things for your eternal good. He has assured you that he has (Eph. 2:10) prepared good works in advance for you personally to do. He has guaranteed that he will (Jn. 14:3) come back and bring you to be where he is. This is the Jesus who has, is, and will continue to bless you. (2 Tim. 1:7) The Spirit God has given us does not make us timid, but powerful, loving, and dedicated to doing the right thing. God’s blessing gives us buoyancy even after we’ve had bad experiences sharing God’s Word.

We receive God’s continual blessing to preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins in his name. As we spend time in his Word he is (Ps. 119:18) opening our eyes and our minds to see wonderful things in his Word so that you can (Lk. 24:45) understand the Scriptures and your need for a Savior. Not only our minds, but also the hearts and minds of those we speak to. Yes, that one neighbor may have rejected you quite forcefully that last you invited them to join you at church. Yes, that one loved one might have responded scornfully as you tried to lead them to repentance for the forgiveness of sins. But does that means you should just throw in the towel? Does that mean you should just give up?

Tom Brady came back because there was still glory for him that can only be found on the football field. And that glory is temporal. It will pass away. He is more likely to get carried off on a cart than on his teammates shoulders. The glory that you pursue in guiding one sinner to repentance causes a celestial stadium of angels to burst forth in cheers. And God promises you will be successful. His Word never returns to him empty. You have his blessing. So, go in the name of Jesus, clothed with the power God has given you in your Baptism, and be his blessed witnesses. (2 Cor. 9:8) And God will bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. Amen.