Instructions After Lift-Off | Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Luke 24:44-53

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

I have always been fascinated with the concept of space travel, I would watch Star Trek, and Star Trek the Next Generation. I remember being in a club learning how to make model rockets and was so happy to launch the model rocket that I picked out of a catalog, put together, and painted. I can visualize being in the Rocket club room carefully putting my Rocket together. Great memories for me and the type of memories I want to create with my children.

I don't think that I am the only one that is fascinated with space travel, there are many popular space movies, the news outlets cover NASA launches, and we even have private companies launching people into space.  Politicians run campaigns on improving space programs, countries compete on who would get on the moon first, society holds the astronaut profession in high esteem, we enjoy the thought of space travel. 

We have a space launch of sorts in scripture, we find Jesus in the Gospel of Luke talking to the disciples after he has shown them proof of his resurrection, and after the walk to Emmaus. Jesus knows his time with the disciples is short so he must give them some instructions so the church can continue thriving after Jesus returns to the Father.  This is no simple task, we as believers already know how the story ends, we are standing here today because we know how the story ends. However, the disciples are in a different situation, the disciples are fresh off a crisis. The disciples saw their savior crucified; we wear crosses now as a symbol of Christianity today, but the symbol was not as glamorous back then as it is today. 

James Cone said that “Unfortunately, during 2,000 years of Christian history, this symbol of salvation has been detached from any reference to the ongoing suffering and oppression of human beings" James Cone says that the cross to the people of God would be like the lynching tree to black people today. The disciples are trying to recover from the trauma of seeing their Savior lynched and figure out how to go forward. Jesus has risen from the dead, showed himself to the people, and looking to cover a few things before his ascension. Jesus knows he is about to be carried away to heaven, higher than any spaceship can go, but before Jesus leaves, he wants to prepare the disciples one last time.

Word

Jesus tells the disciples that his ministry on Earth fulfilled the prophecies in scripture. The Gospel of Luke constantly mentions the Old Testament prophecies Jesus was fulfilling when he fulfilled them.  Over and over in the Psalms, and Isaiah, and other OT books, the writers said a savior is coming, and this what the Savior is going to do, over and over in Gospels, Jesus did what the prophecies said he was going to do. We should get and keep the word of God in us, in our hearts and minds. 2nd Timothy 2:15 says study to show yourself approved; a workman need not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. We need to know what the word says if we want to know what God wants. 

The text says that their minds were opened, Jesus reminded the disciples of what they already knew. The word used for mind in the Greek language also means intellect, Jesus was activating the ability within the disciples. I like this verse and others like it because this verse means that it is ok to keep your brain on when you come into the church. I am a man of faith, and I think that there is a place for science within being a believer, I don't them as exclusive, I don't see faith and science as an either/or but rather a both/and. Have a little talk with Jesus...and a therapist, pray for healing...and go see the doctor and take some medicine. 

Witness

Now that the disciples have the knowledge and the power, they must put that knowledge and power to use. Jesus tells the disciples to go out into the world and let the people know that their sins are forgiven. Proclaim the name of Jesus to all the nations, start in Jerusalem, then go out to the rest of the world. Jesus tells the disciples that they are witnesses, to be a witness in the court system you must have seen something, or know something, and you must be willing to tell someone about it. A witness to a crime or another event gives testimony about what happened because they were around when the event happened. Attorneys will also call expert witnesses because they know about a particular subject and can speak on the subject with authority. No matter if someone was around when the event happened or they know enough about the subject to speak on it, the witnesses have something in common, they still must talk to other people about it, they have to tell it, and tell it all. The disciples were around Jesus when he healed the sick, raised the dead, opened blinded eyes, and now they have to tell the world about it. We all know the grace and mercy of God through his only begotten son Christ Jesus and we out to be able to tell somebody about it. 

We cannot have churches that are not consistently connected to the communities they are in, we must witness and be out in the world. 

Worship

Once Jesus ascends into heaven the disciples go on praising God. This is not a singular event, the text says that they worshiped Jesus and were continually in the temple blessing God.  Praise is participatory and is ongoing. Psalm 34 says “I will bless the Lord at all times, his praises shall continually be in my mouth.”  Hebrews 13 says let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise. Psalm 113 says from the rising of the sun until it goes down, the Lord is to be praised. The disciples worshiped the Lord and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 

The disciples had something to be joyful about and we all have something to be joyful about, that we can know Jesus Christ in the pardoning of our sins.

Study God's word, witness to the world, and worship the Lord. If we can do these things, and do them well, the church will rise to levels we have never seen before.