Now you see him, now you don’t; a work in progress.
Not an end but a beginning. Luke’s gospel opens with Zechariah in the temple and closes with the followers of Jesus praising God in the temple. The Holy Spirit overshadows Elizabeth and Mary and comes down on Jesus at his baptism; the disciples are told to wait until they are clothed with power from on high. Jesus opens the minds of his disciples to understand that all that they have taken part in and witnessed is in direct connection to and succession to the story of their people stretching back to David, to Abraham, to Adam, to God. The death and resurrection of Jesus, and the repentance and forgiveness that he brings are for people of all races and times; this we have seen in the past and this we will see in the future (read the book of Acts!).
And what is our part in all this?
He was with us. We had the scriptures, but closed minds. We need understanding. We need to repent and be forgiven. We need to receive the witness and pass it on. What will it take for us to move from knowing about Jesus to experiencing his life and love for ourselves? This would truly be to encounter God and grow in him.
We need to be clothed in power from on high. This is to be filled, immersed, drenched in God the Holy Spirit. This is what John the Baptiser said that Jesus would do. This is what Jesus promised when he talked of sending another Comforter or Helper, just like himself, even the Spirit of Truth, who would remain with us forever.
Jesus tells them that they must go back to the city and wait. How hard this is. How we like our planning meetings and our filofaxes, and our working parties; we just want to get on with it! Ultimately, this is a reminder that it is not just up to us. It is good to wait. We have no control. We depend absolutely upon God and his power.
It is also a reminder that God has a mission to all the world, starting at Jerusalem. It is his mission. It may look improbable or even impossible to us, and he has involved us in it! But he has promised to clothe us with power. We see this played out as ordinary people share the good news of Jesus, and ‘turn the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6). God calls us to share in his mission here in Camberley. This is primarily by living lives that witness to our immediate neighbours that Jesus is alive and loves them; what an impossibility that the 28,500 people in Camberley today not in church could become worshippers! Or that we might provide a building for worship, fellowship and service, in today’s economic climate. We depend upon God’s power to do all this.
The last thing that Jesus did while on earth was to bless his disciples, and while doing this, he was ‘parted from them’. He was lifted up and a cloud received him (Acts 1:9).
We are left in suspense. What will happen next? The disciples obediently return to Jerusalem, filled with joy, and they spend their time in the temple praising God and waiting to be filled with the Spirit. What will we do?
Discussion Starters:
1. How do we respond to the teaching by Jesus that the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) point to him?
2. How do we understand the mission of God? What is our part in it?
3. How would St Michael’s be different if we were all ‘clothed with power from on high’? How would this affect Camberley?
Come, Holy Spirit, our souls inspire
and lighten with eternal fire.
Implant in us your grace from above.
Enter our minds and hearts with love.
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