Telling the Story of Jesus
If you were listening closely to the first reading and the gospel reading this morning, perhaps you noticed that these two readings offer two different versions of Jesus’ ascension into heaven.
Did you notice?
According to the first reading, from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus ascended – he was lifted up – on the 40th day after his resurrection.
In the gospel reading from Luke, his ascension – when he was carried up into heaven – occurred on the evening of his resurrection.
Interestingly, both the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts were written by the same person. They are attributed to Luke, a well-educated physician who traveled with the apostle Paul and seemed to have first hand experience of the story of Jesus. Luke wrote these books to give his friend Theophilus (“lover of God”) “a well-ordered account” of all that had happened so that Theophilus might have a “firm grasp of the words” in which he had been instructed. (Luke 1:3-4)
Luke wanted to tell the story of Jesus to his friend in a way that his friend could understand it. It took two books to do it.
The gospel of Luke tells the story of Jesus and his life on earth, beginning even before he was born (with the angel Gabriel telling Mother Mary she would conceive and bear a son and she was to call him Jesus. And Mary said yes) and continuing through to the night of his resurrection, when his mission on earth is complete and he is carried up into heaven.
It is in Luke that we find the beautiful Christmas story with which many of us are so familiar – “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled…” and “you will find the child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”.
In this gospel, we hear of Jesus’ public ministry – the parables he told; the miracles he did; the meals he shared with all kinds of people; his long nights of prayer – all done so that he might fulfill the scripture from Isaiah – to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18-19).
In this gospel, we watch as Jesus’ dedication to his mission from God leads him to Jerusalem and to his suffering and his death on the cross. We see him buried and we are with the women on that third day when they arrive at his tomb and the tomb is empty – Jesus is risen.
In this gospel, we gather with the disciples that evening and Jesus comes to stand with us. Once again he teaches us that everything in scripture – from the law of Moses through the prophets and the psalms – have been fulfilled through his life and death and resurrection. Jesus really is the Messiah – the anointed on of God – and through him we are given new life. This changes everything! We can change! We can repent – turn back to God – and receive forgiveness of our sins (all that cuts us off from serving God and each other).
This is the good news of Jesus Christ – the good news which is for all nations – the good news to which we are witnesses. This is the story of Jesus we have to share with all the world. God’s word, proclaimed through Jesus Christ, is trustworthy and true (Rev 22:6). God’s love and grace and forgiveness given through Jesus Christ is for all people.
Having shared this good news with his followers one more time, Jesus promises them one more thing – that they will soon be clothed in power from on high. This is the power of the Holy Spirit – the power that “calls, gathers, enlightens and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth”. (Luther’s small catechism; Apostles’ Creed; Article 3).
Then Jesus blesses his followers and the work they are to do in his name and he leaves them. They watch as he is carried up to heaven. They return to the temple, to worship God and to bless God, waiting for the power that is to come.
Luke continues telling the story of Jesus to his friend Theophilus in the book of Acts. He starts this part of the story by recounting the 40 days Jesus spent with his followers between the day of his resurrection and the day he was taken up to heaven. “Forty days” is always a significant period of time in the Bible – it’s a time of preparation; of waiting for something new to happen (Hebrew people – 40 days in the desert; Jesus’ temptation – 40 days in the wilderness).
During these 40 days, Jesus is present with his followers, reminding them of all that he has taught them about the kingdom of God and promising them that soon they would be baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit.
During these 40 days, Jesus is preparing his followers to be sent out into the world, to tell the story of Jesus and the forgiveness of sins and the new life he offers to all people through his own life and death and resurrection.
Jesus is clear with his followers – he is sending them out to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus is sending them – and us – out to tell the story of Jesus – the story of God’s love and grace and forgiveness that is given for all people through Jesus Christ.
The followers here this message and then watch as Jesus is lifted up and taken out of their sight. They keep looking up until two men bring them back to reality. Jesus will return some day; in the meantime, there is work to do in the world.
Soon, of course, these followers do receive the Holy Spirit and they are filled with the power to tell the story of Jesus; to be (my) witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The book of Acts tells the story of the growth of the early Christian church – the body of Christ – as Jesus’ followers went out into the world to share the good news with everyone they met.
Those of us who follow Jesus today are also sent out by Jesus to be his witnesses; to tell the story of Jesus – the story of God’s love and grace and forgiveness – in this town; in this state; in this country; in all this broken and sinful world.
We can witness and tell the story of Jesus to the ends of the earth through the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us through our baptism when we were “sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever”.
We can witness and tell the story of Jesus to all of God’s creation as we continue in the covenant God made with us in baptism:
- To live among God’s faithful people
- To hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper
- To proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed
- To serve all people, following the example of Jesus
- To strive for justice and peace in all the earth
God’s Word in Jesus Christ is trustworthy and true. God’s love and grace and forgiveness is given to all people of all nations through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
As the body of Christ gathered together here at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, this is the story of Jesus we get to tell to everyone we meet.