Gtcotr/ss050513
Historical Note: Western Church
tradition commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus on “Good Friday” each spring
followed the celebration of His Resurrection three days later on what many call
“Easter Sunday”. Immediately following that first Easter morning, Jesus
appeared to many and for 40 days He gave infallible proofs concerning His
resurrection.
It
is noted in scripture that on the 40th day after His resurrection
Jesus assembled with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, only a few hundred
yards outside the city of Jerusalem. While there He gave them instructions
concerning the coming baptism of the Holy Spirit. The disciples interrupted Jesus and asked:
Acts 1:6 "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to
Israel?"
Jesus
answered them saying that it was not given to them that they should know the
times and seasons which the Father has reserved to Himself. However, Jesus
continued:
Acts 1:8 “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon
you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
In
short – God, who takes care of the timing, will also supply the resources and
in the mean time, for whatever period of time it may be until He comes, we His
servants should simply do our part. What is our part? To be a witness.
Immediately
after Jesus uttered these words of instruction, while His disciples watched,
Jesus was taken up in a cloud out of their sight. The disciples kept staring
intently while Jesus ascended into the heavens and all of the sudden two men in
white clothing appeared and stood beside them. These two were clearly
messengers from God. They said:
Acts 1:11 “Why are you standing here gazing up into heaven? This same
Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as
you saw Him go into heaven.”
This
is the historical account of The Ascension of Christ.
Although we are not commanded to commemorate this event each year or set it
aside as a Holy Day, it nonetheless is an important reminder for us to consider
as we remember the promise of our Father to send Christ once again from heaven
to earth. Upon His return He will rapture His Church and gather the saints from
the whole earth.
Those
who have died “In Christ” will He bring with Him, their bodies will be
resurrected and we which are alive and remain until His coming will be changed
in an instant. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; our mortal bodies shall
put on immortality and we shall be changed to be like Jesus for we will see Him
as He is. Once changed, having put off this corruptible flesh and put on the
incorruptible image of God we will be clothed with glory and we shall ever be
with the Lord. The promise of Christ’s return is central to the message of
Ascension.
According
to this year’s calendar of events, today marks the first day of Ascension week.
Ascension Day is determined by counting 43 days after Passover or 7 days before
Pentecost. The Jewish calendar for this year puts that day as Tuesday/Wednesday
of this coming week, other calendars account it as Thursday and still some
Churches have traditionally celebrated Ascension on the Sunday following
Ascension Day and they will therefore observe it this next Sunday.
Don’t
get confused … remember … “It is not given to us that we can know the exact
time which the Father has reserved to Himself”, whether calculating the exact date
Jesus Ascended or the exact date He will come again. However, just as Jesus
declared to His followers on that day, we need remember that we have been given
a Great Commission and the power of the Holy Spirit with which to accomplish
that Great Commision. All while we continue to trust in the truth which says:
Jesus is coming in a cloud of God’s glory one day but we are His
witnesses every day.
What
does it mean to be a witness?
I
have heard that what we do speaks louder than what we say.
I
don’t deny this is true in some respects however, I can’t remember ever leading
someone to repentance or salvation in Christ without using words. Although it
is quite important that our actions confirm our speech and that in the end we
do not live hypocritical lives, yet if we fail to share our testimony with
others along the way, we fall short of being the witness Jesus has called.
It
is certain that the followers of Jesus should live a life demonstrating the
moral convictions contained in the Holy Bible and encapsulated in the 10
Commandments. Commandments such as:
·
Don’t
Lie
·
Don’t
Cheat
·
Don’t
Steal
·
Don’t
Commit Adultery
·
Don’t
Murder
·
Honor
Father and Mother
·
Don’t
Take the Name of the Lord in Vain
·
Don’t
Worship Idols
To
name a few – Basically: Love God with all your heart, mind, strength and love
others as much as you do yourself.
Yes,
we should definitely live as a good witness to our faith. However, simply
demonstrating a spiritual conviction by the choices we make in life may bring us
credibility or give others confidence in us or a reason to listen when we speak
… but without words, others may never know why we chose to live life as we do. You
may be a good neighbor but do people know why? Actions may be accepted as
evidence but words are used by a witness.
Even
if someone were to follow your example and live better, cuss less, stop
drinking, act kind to their spouse, spend time with their children, take
vacations, argue less or even attend Church – unless someone tells them about
Jesus, His death, resurrection and coming again … they and their family may
never know the true peace and eternal life which accompanies salvation.
Romans 10: 14 But how can people call
for help if they don’t know who to trust? And how can they know who to trust if
they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? And how can they hear if
nobody tells them? (The Message)
Don’t
get me wrong – it’s good to be good … but good won’t get anyone into heaven. We
must tell others the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth. That is
being a good witness.
When
I think about the term “witness”, it reminds me of a courtroom. Have you ever
been in a courtroom or perhaps watched the proceedings on TV? Courtrooms are
filled with important people. There are judges, plaintiffs, bailiffs,
attorneys, stenographers and jurors. However, nothing is settled or moves
forward until a witness gives account. Then all eyes are focused on and ears
opened to the testimony provided. It can be in writing, come from one party or
another or be provided by a third party.
Physical
evidence is often so important to the final determination however evidence is most
often provided to prove the claim … without a record, without a testimony of
that claim, there is nothing to judge.
The
whole world is a court and you have been summoned as a witness to testify on
behalf of Jesus. Daily you will face both opportunity and adversity as you open
your mouth to speak the truth of the Bible. You will not be required to play
the part of a judge, the jury or an executioner. Each one of us is merely
summoned to be a witness and to testify on behalf of Jesus. We have been given the
right and ability from heaven’s eternal Judge to tell others the truth
concerning Jesus and the Gospel.
A
good witness is one who confidently recalls and repeats the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth with honesty, integrity and conviction. You
have been summoned to be a witness this week. Make sure you are ready to give
your testimony when called. Lives hang in the balance.
