Power and Authority

                               

                                            (Painting by Rembrandt)

Today is a national holyday in Europe.  Most have no idea what it is.  Do you what is being commemorated.  (Read Acts 1:6-11)

Today, May 29, we remember the day Jesus transferred his authority to the disciples and then was taken to Heaven.  We call it "Asencion Day."

Jesus took his disciples to the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem.  He said:

All authority in heaven and earth has been giving to me.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I AM with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matt. 28:16) 

Since Jesus had supreme authority and power over all God's creation, his servants including us, may be assured his presence and power was with them and will be with us in all we do.  

There are several Implications:

We are under Christ's Authority.

This event marks the end of Jesus' resurrection appearances.  Jesus opened their minds, so they understood Scriptures. (Lk 24:44) Later, Peter addressing the crowd on Pentecost (which we will discuss next week) quotes Scripture (Ac. 2:16-39) Peter and John, entering the Temple to pray, were approached by a beggar asking for money.  Peter said:  "we don't have silver or gold.  What we have, we give to you."  Using Jesus' authority they did and said what Jesus had done and said in similar healing, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth walk. (Ac. 3:1-10) When Peter and John were arrested for "Speaking and acting in the name of Jesus," they were brought before the Sanhedrin (Jewish Court) and asked:  By what power and authority do you do this?  They responded:  By the Name of Jesus of Nazareth!  ... When they saw the courage... and realized they were ordinary men...who had been with Jesus ... they released them.  (Ac. 4:7-10)

We have been commissioned: 

Jesus said:  "Wherever you go, be a witness."  Jesus is Lord of the Earth.  Like the disciples we can Show and Tell of what God has done for us.  

Jesus said:  "Baptize and Teach everything you have learned."  There was a Series of ever-widening Circles.  The Good News of Jesus Life, Death and Resurrection, spread geographically across races, cultures, including Gentiles, (non-Jews).  God's Gospel has not reached its final destination., if someone in your family, workplace, school or community hasn't heard about Jesus Christ.  Let us be open to God using us in the ever widening of God's loving message. (Using what we learn about fishing, let us Observe, ask questions seeking to find a connection and showing God's Love)

"IN THE NAME OF ... used in Baptism gives the Authority in the Threefold formula:  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  We did not invent the idea of a Triune God.  It comes from Jesus himself.   (I will write more about this next week, when we celebrate the Coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples on the Jewish Day, 50 days after Passover, Pentecost.

We are Assured of Christ' Presence and Power.

Jesus said:  I will send you what the Father promised.  (Ac. 1:4)   Stay in Jerusalem until you have been clothed with power.  We have been commissioned and have important work to do, which can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes that means waiting and listening for God's plans.  We need God's timing and Power to be effective. Power involves courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability and authority.  The disciples used all those gifts in fulfilling their mission. Those who believe in Jesus and accept him as Lord and Savior will experience the same power of the Holy Spirit in their lives.                                                          

The Gospel of Matthew begins and ends with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.  And they will call him Immanuel ... God with us. (1:23) And surely, I AM with you always, to the end of the age. (28:20)

Jesus perfectly lived in and carried out God, the Father's Plan.  Jesus Christ, in fellowship with the Father, shared divine power.  Thant power and authority came upon the disciples 10 days later, Pentecost, of which we will commemorate next week.  Authority: To act in surprising ways -- "Outside the normal way (box) of doing things. Power: To Act on behalf of another. Wherever we go, whether it is next door or to another country, we are to tell of Jesus means in our lives.  This is not an option for those who call Jesus Lord. We are not all evangelists.  We have all received a spiritual gift that enables God's love to flow through us to others.  As we remain in fellowship with Jesus, seeking to live as he taught, we have the comfort of knowing Jesus is always with us.  How can that be if he ascended into Heaven?  Through the Holy Spirit.

As the disciples gazed into the sky watching Jesus' ascend, two Angeles said: This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into Heaven.   (Ac 1:11)

There Jesus took the rightful position of power and rank with the Father in the eternal realm.    Ultimate power raised Jesus from the dead.  The disciples learned to live in that resurrection power.  That is what we called to do.  Let us Go live and act/do in Resurrection Power for the world.

There is a story that when Jesus arrived in Heaven an angel asked:  "What did you do to continue your ministry on Earth?"  Jesus responded:  "I entrusted it to my disciples. " Do you have another plan if they don't do what you taught them?"  "No," responded Jesus, "The Holy Spirit will empower and lead them and through them the Good News will be taken to te the Whole World.  We are recipients of their faithfulness. Let us continue spreading the Good News to all we know.

(Next week I will write about Pentecost and Power the disciples received and used in witnessing, wherever they went, of what Jesus meant in their lives and could mean in those who heard their stories.)