These last few weeks we have been covering people that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. As we move into each one, we also step closer to Pentecost. At the end of the passage today, Jesus officially gives them instructions to prepare. We see a pattern emerging from these interactions with the disciples. A couple weeks ago, we were on the Emmaus road walking with these two men, Cleopas and an unnamed friend. They go seven miles of walking without realizing that it is Jesus they have been talking to the whole time. They break bread together. Then their eyes are opened to who it is they are had been entertaining that afternoon. And just like that... He is gone. Immediately they head back to Jerusalem to let the other disciples know.
One last "run" at Luke 24 and one more moment where Jesus appears to the disciples.
Presence - Power - Promise
Presence
"Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels' wings, I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place."
It is often talked about. We hear people mention it in a prayer request or an occasional testimony. Do we really understand what's going on? Do we really get what it means to have the Lord here and with us in the moment? Few of us will spend the time wisely or use the necessary space given to us to really know and feel what it means to be that close to the Lord.
What we are reading this morning comes after that seven mile hike to the village of Emmaus. Jesus' true identity is somehow kept from them as they walked and talked. Presence with God can work out that way. Yes, He can be that close and we don't pick up on the reality of all that is before us. If He wants or needs to do so, He can conceal Himself. Because of our sin issue, we do not see Him as we should. Mankind was made to walk with God in closeness and fellowship. "Now we see as through a veil, then we shall see face to face." One day that connection shall be restored. We will be with Him and see Him as He truly is.
What it must have been like to actually have been there. The blessing that generation was given to see and behold the Messiah as He is, in the flesh. What must it have been like? Those who were hiding and scared were suddenly filled with awe at the presence of Jesus standing before them. They got to touch his wounds. They got to hug their friend. It was moments like this and a hundred more that inspired John's words.
These two guys on the road to Emmaus have felt that. They had no idea Jesus was that close. Then they all of the sudden they did know. And, just like that Jesus was gone. 7 miles they huff it back to Jerusalem. Remember the distance. Somewhere out around the drive in theater out on E Main. Down to the corner of Memorial Dr at the Jobs & Family Services building. Then all the way out around Meijer. You up for it? They went to Emmaus. Now they go back, and what happens? Jesus just appears out of nowhere?!?! That's just impossible, you say. And we are reminded of what Jesus said. "With God all things are possible."
Power
How are all things possible with God? Because he has the power to do so. If he wants to heal, he heals. If he wants to meet with two friends in a blindingly white cloud on top of a mountain (and if he wants friends to witness it with Him) then we see the crossroads of Presence and Power. If he wants to speak in such a way as to shake our souls and minds, there we see the Authority by which true Power is possible. And if he wants to just appear in a room full of people when the doors and windows are shut & locked, he can do that.
The disciples have witnessed a good deal of power over their three and half years of walking with him. Why should they be so afraid and disturbed by the events that have happened over this weekend? v45 says it all. "Then he opened their mind so they could understand the Scriptures." He gives them the same explanation he had been telling them the whole time they had been walking together throughout His Ministry. He tells them about his death, his resurrection. He tells them it had to happen this way to fulfill all that the scriptures had to say about Him. He alone has the power to open our minds to it, to the truth, or to keep us in the dark. He open their minds and suddenly it makes sense to them.
We mistake His power for what have seen so many times on the movie screen. One man against the world. One super human taking on an entire army. The power we seek is not physical. It is the power to overcome. The power to keep the human side at bay, under the control of the spiritual. We need God's help if we are to have any chance of following his commands. We cannot do it alone. This is where the disciples find themselves. They are afraid. Why? Because of power and who has it. The Romans. The Pharisees. Least of all, themselves. Even Jesus' presence does not immediately help. "Peace be with you." His opening words as he appears causes them to be "startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost." We need God's power if we are to overcome. Fear. Doubt. Unbelief. We are tempted on all sides. God's power will cause us to rise against it. The closer we are to His presence, we more access we have to His power.
From John 8
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Promise
The Bible is built on God's Promises to mankind. Jesus' relationship with these disciples are built on them as well. "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." It is not so much a command as it is a promise. Jesus is going to take these uneducated, dirty, scrappy looking groups of guys and turn them into Messengers for the Kingdom of God. His words are a promise. He says he will do this. And, by the time we get to Pentecost these men are ready to stand on a balcony over looking three thousand people and give the sermon of their lives. Peter especially, who we have seen at his best and his worst. Jesus restores him and wants this eager disciple to "Feed my sheep." Now to this tired, scared group of sheep locked in a room and to afraid to come out, He says to them that He will clothe them with power from on high. He encourages them to get ready, because the day is coming. The promise is that Jesus will pour out the Holy Spirit on them and they will shake the foundations of Jerusalem. They will go everywhere and anywhere with the message. All of this is a not so much a directive as it is a promise.
God says it is going to happen. His hearers and readers and those who were actually present just need to get ready. How do we get ready? Presence - Power - Promise
In all of Jesus's interactions after his resurrection, we can see him working in these three ways. If we flip back into the Old Testament, we see very much the same scenario. God comes to his people with Presence - Power - Promise. One of the most notable comes from Genesis 15. Abram is worried about the future. He is bothered by who will carry on his estate. All he has at that time is a servant and he think all will be turned over to him. God shows Abram that his descendants will be as many as the stars in the sky. He then asks that Abram get together a list of animals and prepare them for sacrifice. The promise God makes with Abram here is one that connects itself all the way to what we are remembering and covering today. There ws a tradition in the time of Abram where two parties would come together. The animals that had been killed here, their blood represented a way to walk through. Whatever the covenant was between the two parties, what each side was saying by walking through the blood was that "If I don't keep my side of the bargain, If I don't uphold my promise to keep this covenant, you can do this to me." Abram, however, is caused by the Lord to fall into a deep sleep. The Lord comes down and walks through the pieces alone. He walks through for both parties. He takes the weight and the punishment for not keeping the covenant on His own shoulders - for both sides. God is saying, "If I don't keep my side of the covenant, you can do to me as we have done with these animals today. And, if You and your family do not keep the covenant, if they are unbelieving, if they loose faith, if they doubt, if for any reason they do not keep their side of the covenant, you can do this to me."
The way of blood has been the way to show God's presence and power and promise. Some 1500 years later, after that moment with Abram, a man will come who will be called Jesus. He will die for his peoples sins. He will come to those who are His own, but they will no receive Him. The weight of the world will be placed on his shoulders. He will be our way into forgiveness and restoration of our relationship with God. Jesus will fulfill the promises of God in his own life. He will overcome sin. He will overcome death. In the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord and Savior of mankind. Here comes the kicker. Jesus needs us, his followers, to go out there and share the message of what he can do so others may believe. Are you willing? Can you prepare? How much time are you willing to spend in His Presence? Can you humble yourself and say that you need His power? Are you able to rely on His Promise? The road ahead to Pentecost is paved with His direction. Let us prepare our hearts as we travel the road ahead.
Blessings
Comments
Post a Comment