“After his suffering he presented himself alive to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1;13)
‘After his suffering…’ Don’t overlook the awesome power of ‘after.’ Don’t read so fast that you fail to celebrate the fact there was a fulfillment of God despite what many were sure was a massive failure in life.
Right away, our risen Lord reminds us that there is indeed a story after suffering (what was true then is true for you too). Not only that, but a risen Christ takes time to ready us for a coming kingdom.
Question: If you only had forty days before moving on, what would be your focus? I’d consider teaching on courage or give a crash course on communicating the gospel to the current culture…but Jesus taught on the kingdom. If you can recall, it’s the first request he taught us to make when we pray—that God’s kingdom come and will be done here (on earth) as it is there (in heaven).
The mission critical question, however, is this: Who will be the conduit for this kingdom of new starts, clean slates, broken chains and transformed living?
It’s what the disciples were determined to figure out. Did you see?
“So when they had come together, they [the disciples] asked him, “Lord, is this the time you [emphasis mine] will restore the kingdom to Israel? (v.6). Here is Jesus’ answer and therein lies our assignment:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses.”
‘Wait, Lord. Did we hear you right? I may’ve had some wax in my ears. Who did you say would cause your kingdom to come?”
Jesus stares into the eyes of the disciples as well as ours and says, “You heard me right: You, you and you.”
As you read the gospels did you ever notice that often after Jesus cast out demons or cured the lame or healed the sick or restored sight or set someone free of some affliction that he either followed it or preempted it with some teaching on the kingdom of God? Is it any circumstance, then, that the Lord refused to go about ascending without us ascertaining the effects of a people who are committed to kingdom living in the name of Christ?
Just two weeks ago, Christ Church celebrated the addition of 13 disciples into its membership—amidst pastoral moves at that! We’re so excited to welcome Leesa Boyd, Jose Cintron, Dave Gilbert, Paula Gilbert, Steven Gilbert, Jo Lynne Nugent, Howard Oliver, Pat Oliver, Patty Rose, Cheryl Stephens, Kate Stewart, Mike Thomas, Susan Thomas and Erin Thomas to the fold! These brothers and sisters in Christ are with us for a myriad of reasons, but here are two primary ones: The sense of family in here and a missional focus out there. Moves among pastors are important, yes. But movement among a people is pivotal…and I’m proud to say that I’ve pastored a people who understand discipleship as deployment.
Consider our response to hunger, health, homelessness and other cries of the heart around us…and then recall the membership covenant from two weeks ago: “As members of the household of God…do you resist evil and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves? Are you poised to serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?” Who’s it apply to? Our new members? Not just them, but you. Who do we need? Through the movement of the Holy Spirit, who makes the church?
You…you…and you.
