Easter; What Next?

Finished and Finishing Well - Hebrews 12:1-3

For the joy set before him [Jesus] endured the cross . . . and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2

A minister recalls whilst a student at college, he spent two summers working in a restaurant. He records that there was no sitting down on the job. As long as there were customers, all the employees had to be on their feet and busily working. Not until the work was finished could anyone sit down.

One of the things Christ’s ascension reveals is that Jesus finished the mission the Father had sent him to do: “When [he] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, [Jesus] sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12). Mission accomplished! But this does not mean Jesus stopped working. Being seated on the throne in heaven means he is actively ruling as Lord of all—sustaining all things while also praying for us, helping us, and working through us by his Holy Spirit (Hebrews 1:3; 2:18; 7:25).

Sometimes life can seem like a marathon. We feel as if there is always more to do, more coming at us than we can handle. Often we are hampered by our own thoughts and weaknesses that keep us focused on our own interests rather than on God and others.

Jesus’ ascension reminds us where our race is headed. When we think of all that Jesus has accomplished, and all that he and the Spirit are doing for us today, we are given a kind of “spiritual second wind” to keep going, in the Lord’s strength.

His heavenly presence assures says, don’t lose heart;  the ascended Lord will help us finish well.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we praise you for your finished work, assuring us of salvation. By your Spirit, strengthen us to keep living and working for you today. Amen.

Easter - What Next?

We continue our journey towards the Ascension; the Gospel clearly states, “He Left Them” - Luke 24:50-53

While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. — Luke 24:51

In a weeks time we will celebrate Ascension Day, the day that marks Jesus’ return to heaven.

For several weeks after rising from the dead, Jesus appeared to his disciples, taught them, and convinced them that he was really alive. His followers rejoiced. They also wrestled with their doubts (see Matthew 28:17; John 20:27) and tried to understand what it all meant.

Then suddenly the moment arrives for which Jesus had prepared his disciples. He had spoken many times of his return to the Father. Now, we’re told, he “led them” to witness his ascension. He blessed them. And “while he was blessing them, he left . . . and was taken up into heaven.”

When people leave us suddenly, we’re often shocked, disappointed, or even hurt. Though it seems the disciples felt some of these emotions (see John 16:19-20; Acts 1:10), their ultimate response is noteworthy: “they worshiped him,” and “with great joy” they praised God.

Jesus’ disciples had been well prepared for this moment. They learned that Jesus had led them well, and because he led them to this moment, it had to be for their good. They saw that even as he left them, their Lord continued to give his blessing.

Jesus prepares us too, to worship God and serve him. On our journey towards  the feast of the Ascension, let us remember his leading and blessing as we too worship him with great joy.

Prayer

Ascended Lord, we praise you. Help us to see your leading and blessing as your Kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. Let us serve with joy until you come again. Amen.

Easter - What Next?

“Why do you stand here looking into the sky?” — Acts 1:11

For three years Jesus had taught and healed. He had instructed crowds from Jerusalem to Galilee with his words and by his example. After his death and resurrection, he appeared to his disciples to confirm their faith and help them understand the coming kingdom of God.

But now Jesus had ascended to heaven. And for a moment, his followers seemed a bit shocked. Perhaps they wondered whether they could follow Jesus into the clouds, or at least remain in the moment of this spiritual high.

Faithfulness to the ascended Lord, however, means that we do not just stand around staring after him. Yes, it is a good thing to contemplate the glory of Jesus as the Son of God. But we also remember that God has a plan for the world that continues even after the ascension. And he intends to use all who have seen his glory, as long as they remain in this world, to extend his offer of salvation to the world. For the ascended Jesus will return, and we will answer for our faithfulness to his call while he has been away.

Have you met this Jesus? Are you prepared to follow him? Do not simply stare up toward heaven, longing to hold onto some spiritual mountaintop moment. Take the next step, embrace him as Lord, and go out to serve him till he comes again.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we worship you. You are one with the Father, ruling over everything until you come again. May we give our lives to serve you, sharing your good news of salvation as we go. Amen.

How to Let go and Let God

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, "I am going away, and I am coming to you." If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way. John 14:27-31

One writer commenting on this passage suggests, I should imagine Jesus sitting with me here where I am at the moment. I see him looking at me with love and I hear him saying to me “I am giving you my peace”. How do I feel? I sit with Jesus for a while, allowing these words to sink into my heart.

We may well ask, “Where in my life do I need the peace of Jesus at the moment?” Perhaps it’s in a relationship, or in my work, or just in my own heart, peace with myself. Can I talk honestly now to Jesus about my need for peace, asking him to let his peace touch me where I most need it?

There is a certain peace and joy that comes from knowing and loving God directly, that nothing else can give. Once we know God as source of being, we love all of creation as expressions of this love and goodness. Creation, including all our beloved, are not rivals for God’s love but expressions of God’s love.

If you love someone you would want the greatest good of all for them, which is that they would know the peace that surpasses all understanding - a peace the world cannot give on its own - a peace that comes only from knowing and loving God and God’s presence in creation.

I thank you Lord for your being, and the miracle of your presence in my life.

Lord, I need your gift of peace! So often I find myself unsure, anxious, worried, angry. Talk to me about how you coped when things were out of control in your life, especially at the end. What kept you going? You seem to have had such a deep sense that your Father was with you, and that he was asking you to reveal the limitless scope of divine love for the world.

Help me always to rise from prayer with renewed trust in you as I face the things you want done. May I always act out of love. AMEN

Let Go and Let God

Continuing in the Sacrament of Waiting

Jesus said to his disciples, "Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves." Luke 12:35-38

Jesus speaks of his coming as a time of joy and celebration, not of fear and trembling. We only need to wait prepared so that when he comes we can open the door to him. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Lord, help me to live with my lamps lit and ready to welcome you when you come into my life.

One writer put it this way - “I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. This quite incredible statement was fulfilled at the Last Supper when Jesus, to his friends’ great surprise, put on the apron and started washing their feet. Our God is one who serves us, who waits on us at table. In our waiting it is good spend some time reflecting on this great truth, and ask for gratitude.”

When we work in the Master’s service, he will feed and sustain us. He never asks more of us than we are capable of doing.

There is a condition called acedia. It is a listlessness of the soul which the ancient monks called ‘the noonday devil’ - a demonic force intent on breaking the monk’s spiritual resolve. When life seems overwhelming, and we are paralysed by fear, fatigue and inertia, can we look forward to the end of the day when Jesus brings us to a laden table, sits down beside us and talks with us about what I have been through?

The theologian Karl Barth has a lovely description of what salvation in Christ means: 'the prisoner has become the watchman'. Yes, prisoners have been liberated; but they have only been liberated so that they can take their place in the watchtower, waiting for the return of the Messiah so that they can announce it.

Lord, make me vigilant so that I may recognise your face in my encounters today. As C. S. Lewis says, there are no ordinary mortals in this world. Everyone is an extra-ordinary immortal, destined for eternal joy. Let me be reverent to them all. Amen

Online Sunday Worship

Online Worship for St Nicholas Methodist Church, Topsham 020521

https://youtu.be/gcm8bLJ3i6E

Letting Go and Letting God

A simple thought for today can be summed up in the notion of waiting upon God. In Isaiah 40:31 we read, “But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Betsy Childs Howard, writes in  “Seasons of Waiting: Walking by Faith When Dreams Are Delayed”

“Waiting exposes our idols and throws a wrench into our coping mechanisms. It brings us to the end of what we can control and forces us to cry out to God. God doesn't waste our waiting. He uses it to conform us to the image of his Son.”

Such waiting is beautifully captured in Macirna Weiderkehr’s poem, The Sacrament of Waiting

Slowly

She celebrated the sacrament of letting go.

First she surrendered her green,

Then the orange, yellow and red

Finally she let go her brown.

Shedding her last leaf

She stood empty and silent, stripped bare,

Leaning against the winter sky

She began her vigil of trust.
Shedding her last leaf
She watched its journey to the ground.

She stood in silence
Wearing the colour of emptiness
Her branches wondering;
How do you give shade with so much gone?

And then
The sacrament of waiting began

The sunrise and sunset watched in tenderness.

Clothing her with silhouettes

That kept her hope alive.

They helped her understand that

Her vulnerability

Her dependence and need,

Her emptiness,

Her readiness to receive

Were giving her a new beauty.

Every morning and every evening they stood in silence

And celebrated together

The sacrament of waiting.