But they were also sometimes goof balls, or as Noah, our grandson says, golf balls!
Now I mean goof balls in the best sense of the word, because I have no intention of disparaging them. But, let’s be real, they were much too much like us! They were a big bowl of granola, fruits, flakes and nuts altogether! Peter was impetuous! Thomas was incredulous! John was a lover, not a fighter! And don’t get me started on Matthew.
Each of them was unique, gifted, flawed, wonderful, and nuttier than fruitcakes.
And right here again in this conversation with Jesus after the resurrection they prove it again.
Because they now, according to Luke, ask Jesus if after all that has gone on, whether he, Jesus, who they have figured out finally is God present in human form, if he is going to give Israel a king.
Understand, in many ways it was a perfectly reasonable question.
It fits the narrative of most folks in their land who were hoping for the Roman occupation forces to be overthrown, and for the weasels who were in control of the religious establishment to be ousted from their positions of authority.
They wanted a King like David, grand and glorious, a man after God’s own heart, generous, kind, compassionate, loving, graceful, yet powerful both in the spirit and in presence so that Israel would no longer be the Middle East’s most conquered nation.
But… Their thinking was off! It was foggy.
Somehow, after all Jesus had taught them, they were still thinking in nationalistic terms, even after Jesus had made clear the Kingdom of God was for the whole world.
And so, Jesus kind of points that out in his response. He says:
“You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.”
So, first of all, you don’t need to know. That information is above your pay grade, and in fact mine too, and …
You have other work to do until then.
You see, it’s not about Israel.
Yes, preach in Jerusalem. Yes, preach and heal in Judea. Yes, preach and heal and cast out demons in Samaria.
Wait, what? Samaria? The land of heretics? Well, it used to be the Northern Kingdom of Israel, so I supposed we could try to get them onboard and come back and be a united nation.
Yes, preach and heal and cast out demons and make visible the Kingdom of God…
Everywhere in the world!
It’s not just about wonderful little Israel!
It’s about the Kingdom of God becoming present everywhere, here and now, through the work of the church, preaching, healing, inviting, encouraging, loving, growing, and making disciples, and then baptizing them, and then sending them on to do the same as you are doing.
It is not about a nation. It is not about an ethnicity. It is not about a gender. It is not about a geographic region. Its not about what so many of us want to make it.
It is about God’s Kingdom!
And until you and I have done the work of the Kingdom to its fullest capacity, as long as there is work to be done, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will not be back, to gather his whole church and reign forever and ever.
So… You need to get to it.
And, just so you understand, you disciples and all my followers, will be filled with the Holy Spirit - so you can build God’s Kingdom!
Yeah, keep that in mind. We, God’s people, receive the Spirit, so we can build God’s Kingdom! We are on fire
And then Jesus kind of dropped the mic and walked out of the room!
Through the glory he went, into the cloud of God’s eternal presence. And he was gone.
And all God’s people said, “whoa”?
And Luke tells us that two angels were standing next to them as Jesus left and as they stared in wonder, they said:
“Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go.”
So, go! And all God’s people said, Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment