“The No-One-Ever-Told-Me Syndrome”
Luke 24:45-53
(From “Easter Linebacker” video intro) TRANS: Again, not your best method for relating to your culture, but it sure makes us think, doesn’t it? It’s one way to open up the eyes of those round us, eh?
Speaking of eyes being open, how about a quick review? What are some reasons people don’t believe from Luke 24?
1. The Second-Hand Syndrome
2. The Forest-for-the-Trees Syndrome
3. The Too-Good-to-be-True Syndrome
This week, we look at a fourth reason people don’t believe, and this reason finds it roots in verses 45-49 of Luke 24. It’s what I call the “No-One-Ever-Told-Me” Syndrome. In fact, this very reason – sure, we have put it in our own verbiage – forms the foundation for Christ’s last words to his disciples, and gives us the backdrop for the mission Christ bestowed upon them. Jesus wanted his followers to spread the word! Sure, they now knew it was true, but so many others were still unaware; many more had yet to hear! So he gives them some instructions designed to make sure no one ever says, “But no one ever told me?!” Let’s see what those instructions are, shall we? Look at 24:45-49…
• We read that he “opened their minds.” Did you know this was the second body part to be ‘opened’ by Christ? The first was their eyes in 24:31, and now their minds in 24:45. And how did he do it? Through Scripture!
• Yes, upon the heels of their human amazement (24:40-43), Jesus uses Scripture to turn it to spiritual belief. This is the power of the Word in action – it brings belief! And all through this chapter we have seen this repeated, haven’t we? As Paul said in 1 Thess. 4:13 and as the writer of Hebrews told us, God’s Word is living and powerful!
• As soon as they are brought into a realization of what is really going on, they are commissioned to help others experience the very same thing. How? By preaching repentance and forgiveness! By the way, this is third body part Jesus open – their mouths! And you gotta love that progression – eyes, mind, and mouths. (On a side note, when we get that in reverse order, we tend to get in trouble, don’t we?)
• Jesus was clear that both repentance and forgiveness go hand in hand, for it is repentance that activates God’s forgiveness. Yes, his forgiveness already there, but when we confess our sin (1 John 1:9), agreeing with God about it, then we experience what has already technically happened. It’s like endorsing a check that is already written.
• As I read 24:48-49, I am hit with this simple realization: The mission we’ve seen throughout Luke is possible! Jesus delivers what the Father has promised: the Spirit. In fact, John indicates he breathed on them the Holy Spirit. And that is what enabled the disciples – and consequently us – to be “on mission.” This was how God was going to keep people from the “No-One-Ever-Told-Me” Syndrome. Yes, the mission is possible, thanks to the Father, Son and Spirit – and you!
Did you get that last word – you?!? Perhaps you’re wondering, “Me? Am I really necessary? Valuable? Important?” You bet! You see, in a nutshell, Jesus is simply saying to them, “What you now see you must now share!” Now that their eyes and minds had been opened (24:31, 45), Christ expected their mouths to follow suit! And no one else could do the witnessing; they were the ones with whom it had to begin. That is truly the point of thee verses – take what you now believe and boldly share it around the world.
Hold on for a minute, though – you may think I’m asking you to leave here and start verbally testifying to everyone you meet, giving them the four spiritual laws and a quick sinner’s prayer. No offense meant here, but that’s the last thing I’m looking for as a result of this message. Leaving here with lips that are “armed and dangerous” could be a bad idea!
Instead, leave here with a life committed to the truth of the Gospel – open eyes and minds – and watch your lips speak naturally about it! That’s the sequence of events – the order of priority – I hope you will seek.
In fact, I find it interesting that Christ asked them to be witnesses. Not once in this text do we see a command to “do” witnessing; no, the disciples were to be witnesses. One is a task, the other a lifestyle. One is a program, the other a process. And what Christ is emphasizing here is the nature of our outreach – it is to be relational at its core. First, vertically relational, and then horizontally relational. But in every direction, our outreach and witnessing is, at its core, a relational strategy. We become something – eye-witnesses of the truth! Then, that spills out into everything we do! Do you see it now – life and lips!
You see, Christ was not advocating for words alone; he wasn’t looking for verbiage without vitality. He was interested in a combination of life and lips; words plus actions. Jesus was looking for his disciples to engage in a verbal and visual lifestyle. That’s the kind of witnesses they were to become, and that’s the kind of witnesses we are to become. And that’s the kind of witnessing that works!
Essentially, this is called “disciplemaking,” and it’s the one thing we do. Matthew 28:19-20 spells this out in the same way – “make disciples” – Mark 16:15 calls it “preaching the Gospel,” and Luke here calls it “being witnesses.” In all the Synoptics, though, it is essentially this lifestyle that we are called to live now that Jesus is in Heaven: follow Him personally and visually, and then share that passionately and verbally.
When we engage in that type of witnessing – when we follow the prescription here in Luke 24 – we have the honor of partnering with God as he opens their eyes, minds, and mouths. Those who once didn’t know, now know! Those who have never heard, now hear! Those who before didn’t understand – they now get it! Their eyes are no longer wide shut, but fully open! Hallelujah!
I recall the very first time this truth grasped me – I was in Jr. High, and after a mission’s conference and the teaching of Scripture from Acts 1, I began to be very burdened about my neighbors, Jerry and Debbie. Know what I did? Went right home and knocked on their door! I was pumped, and I was going to set them straight. Seriously, I was under great conviction, and it I could sense God laying my neighbors on my heart. Unfortunately, they weren’t home at the time. No problem, I thought. And I went right over to Mr. Musgrove, an older, crabby man who lived across the street and for whom I mowed his lawn. Guess what? He was home! Uh-oh! Actually, it went okay. We talked, and though he didn’t have a miraculous, life-changing conversion that day, he asked me some kinda-rhetorical questions about what he had seen in me, and they made me think. Questions like, “Why should I listen to you?” and “Is that why your family is gone every Sunday when I come out to get the paper?” and “Is that why you say ‘Yes sir’ and ‘No sir’ when I’m talking to you, boy?” After my legs quit shaking and my voice quit squeaking and I began walking home (okay, running home!), I realized he was watching me. What a lightning bolt for a 14-year old! But it brought about some gradual changes in me, and made me think twice each time I cut his grass, walked by his yard or rode with my family by his house. Little by little it began to sink in that my witness is more than words. Sure, in my zeal I may have brought about some neighborhood talk, but it was sinking in – people didn’t know and I needed to show them and tell them. How sad it would be if people who lived right next door to me and right across the street from me one day said, “No one ever told me.”
As a way to motivate you to be the right kind of witness, let me share with you some additional insight into this text that I think will motivate you to live and speak about the good news.
First, consider the content of our witnessing. (24:45-46).
I refer to this as the ‘what’ of our relational strategy. It is the Gospel! Do you se it in verse 46 –“Christ will suffer and rise from the dead the third day.” That’s what we communicate, whether by life or lips. In all my actions, words, reactions and habits, people should see and hear – feel – this phrase oozing from you: I believe!
1 Corinthians 15 lays this out so well for us, doesn’t it, when it says “we have received it and taken our stand in it.” You can sense when someone has taken their stand on something, can’t you? It’s obvious! Do your neighbors, friends, and family know you have taken your stand on the Gospel?
I’ve told you before, but it always bears repeating – I remember when I took my stand on the Gospel. I was 14, and God’s Spirit convicted me so strongly that I could not hold back the tears or emotion. And you know it’s not cool for a Jr. Higher to cry. But I was crying! Why? God had saved me! It is a moment in time I will never forget, for God wiped away my sin and made me white as snow. He forgave me, cleansed me, and put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto my God (Psalm 40). You say, “How can that happen to someone at 14?” Granted – it wasn’t as clear then as it is now in respect to a full understanding. All I knew at that point was that I believed, and it affected my life! I was convinced I was lost and needed a Savior. And that day I walked down an aisle in front of all my friends and believed!
And they could tell, for as the next few years passed, I had made a whole new set of friends. Oh, I didn’t necessarily abandon them; they just could tell that I no longer believed quite what they believed. So naturally they found other friendships. Believing made a real difference in my life.
Let me ask you a question – do you remember when you believed and life began to change? That’s the surest sign of real belief – change! I invite you today to evaluate your life and see if you have embraced the content of that about which we witness. Unless you have, witnessing makes no sense and will be virtually impossible. [GIVE GOSPEL and talk about RESPONSE CARD]
Second, consider the scope of our witnessing. (24:46-47)
I call this the ‘who’ of our relational strategy. And based on the Greek word used in the text, we’re targeting every ethnic group on the planet. Yes, God’s perspective is a global one, and every ethnic group matters, no matter where they are! You see, that’s the word used here in verse 47 – ethnos. It is translated “nations,” but it is the actual word ethnos, from which we get ‘ethnic.’ Now “nations” is a good translation, but you might miss the bigger picture without knowing the word was ethnos. And just what is that bigger picture? That our witnessing should go beyond people are who just like us! It should extend to those who are different than us.
Textually, the aim here was Gentiles. In fact, this word has been translated “gentiles” and “heathen” on several other occasions. And for a Jew, this was a big step. To witness to others “on the other side” was something not normally done. But that was the charge Christ left with the Eleven – to take the message even to those who weren’t like them! Christ exemplified this in John 4 with the Samaritan woman, clarified this in Acts 1:8 when he used the words “uttermost parts,” and reminded Peter he really meant this when he opened Cornelius’ eyes in Acts 10 (even though Peter wanted to argue with God about the vision). But if we are to make sure everyone has heard, then it requires going beyond ourselves and witnessing to those who aren’t like us. Yes, this is uncomfortable, and challenging. But biblical!
I was introduced to “different” the summer I took about 30+ Jr. Highers to Mexico. What an experience! Yes, our own Mike Hain was with me (and what a trip he had). The things I saw on that trip changed my life -- forever! I can’t begin to tell you the broadening I experienced during that two week period, but it opened my eyes to what “different” really meant. Villages with no electricity, families with very little to live in or live on, people with incredible sickness, cities with little or no governance…wow! It was a different world just south of the border. Oddly, though they had never heard of Jesus, they had heard of Coke, and most villages were selling it daily! It all seemed surreal to me, and I was sensing in my heart the emotion of Luke 24 – “preach this good news to all people groups.”
I remember watching out the bus window as we left a village one day, seeing a little girl stare at us. She just stood there waving, probably wishing she was on the bus with us. God burdened me again, and convicted me that if only one ever knew, it was worth it. At least she’ll know! Out of that came a song, about the only one I’ve every written – “If Only One.” Yes, the work is hard, the people are different, and the sacrifices are many. But it’s worth it if they hear!
A few years later I took some more kids back again, and once again God used that time to deepen my love for the nations across the globe. Even when I was mounted on the shoulders of one of my sophomores, Clint, and we were about to get slashed by a crew of knife-carrying, cursing Mexicans, I was saying, “Lord, I just want to be your mouthpiece so that they will hear.” I didn’t know Spanish, but Clint knew a little, and he was relaying to me that what they were saying wasn’t good! I remember him saying to me as they squeezed in on us and the intensity increased, “Todd, if they come at us, I’m going to Heaven swinging, so get ready to jump!”
Fortunately for us, the missionary could sense there was violence brewing in the village, and so he blew the whistle (we knew when we heard that whistle to head straight for the bus), indicating it was time to “head ‘em up and move ‘em out.” We loaded the bus, a girl between every guy, and asked the girls to bow their heads and for the guys to lean over and make a shield or covering for the girls. We no sooner did this than rocks started hitting the windows. We were getting stoned! Lanny, the missionary, started the bus – I’m so glad that church bus started! – and we headed for the village gate. Men were standing in front of it, hoping to stop the bus and take the girls (we found out later). But Lanny yelled back to us, “Hang on, I’m not stopping.” As he approached the gate, the men parted, then cursed and threw more rocks. But we kept on rolling! And rolling, rolling, rolling all the way back to Chihuahua!
I remember my visit to the Indians in Canada in the mid 80’s. It all seemed pretty normal, till we got to camp and scrambled off the bus. (Yep, me and more kids!) Our job was to take the Gospel into various Indian villages surrounding the lakes up there, but they didn’t tell us we would have to battle the mosquitoes from hell! Ugh! In fact, I think four of our smaller Jr. Highers got carried away that week and I’ve never seen them since. Seriously, I came home with 96 bites from head to toe, and I didn’t even have that many compared to most of the people on our teams. We were one scratching group!
Now what if I said, “Since you treated me that way, I’m not coming back. And I’m not telling you about the greatest news of all – Jesus Christ!” Or what if I said, “That’s too difficult and hard. I can’t take that much stress in my life, so you’ve got to find out about Jesus another way.” While you might say that was logical, I would say it is unbiblical. And pretty selfish, too! After all, Christ loved us when we were still sinners. And he died for us, even though the ‘way of the cross was rigged and steep – even fatal! So modeling his love means I should love even when it is hard and uncomfortable, and even when it involves people who don’t like me or aren’t like me. We are under a command – to tell the nations! Truly, the scope of the gospel is the globe!
Last, consider the method of our witnessing. (24:47-49)
I like to call this the ‘how’ of our relational strategy. And I find that the method Christ explains here, which is “beginning at Jerusalem,” is also echoed in Acts 1:8:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Yes, Acts 1:8 lays this out for us – from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts. It’s not either/or, but both/and! The church is not given an option when it comes to where and how we get the Gospel out. I believe we must be involved locally, regionally, and globally.
This is why we set aside money every month for missions around the world (we have increased our monthly support 62% over last year), and also why we are very committed to raising the money necessary to continue “missionizing” here in Ankeny. We know God has called us to do both! And in a few weeks, when you give in our special Resurrection Offering, you’ll be helping both!
(Explain the offering and reference insert …the first 15% towards mission projects locally, regionally, and globally, and the remainder towards a stronger church right here in Ankeny).
No one does this better than First Family! You guys have helped settle a missionary in France, you provided chairs to school children in Peru, you sent relief items to hurricane survivors in Mississippi, you helped rebuild a church in the tsunami-stricken region of Malaysia, and on and on I could go listing things you have done both near and far in only two+ years of existence. I am confident this year will be no exception. Thank you for being an Acts 1:8 church – from Ankeny to the ends of the earth!
First Family, just as he said to the disciples, so he says to us – “What you now see you must now share!” May our church answer his call and tell his story. May we be his witnesses so that everyone would hear.
This morning as we close, I’d like you to do something with me – take off your shoes. You heard it right – tae off your shoes. You see, while we have looked a gaining a global perspective of God’s plan, we can’t forget where it starts. And it all starts with your feet!
If you’re wondering what I’m talking about, let me jog your memory with Romans 10:14-15. In these verses, Paul does just what we have done this morning – do all you can to make sure everyone hears. In fact, he says that anyone and everyone who simply calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!
But then he asks four probing questions to make us ponder how people actually call on the Lord:
“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?”
And then he ends with a wonderful statement about our feet: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
Do you see what he is doing? Yes, everyone should hear, for we don’t anyone saying “No one ever told me.” Let’s do all we can so that everyone can call on the name of the Lord! But the “everyone” in Romans 10:13 starts with the “someone” in Romans 10:15 – the one who will go! Apparently, the “everyone” may never hear if the “someone” doesn’t go! Is that someone you?
In fact, with those words ringing in our ears, I invite you to look at your feet. While you do, let God’s Spirit start his wonderful work of conviction. Don’t move or jump…stay calm…let him speak to you, friend. Leave today with a renewed commitment to being his sent one, his witness, a visual and verbal testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! [BOW HEADS]
With your heads bowed, eyes closed and shoes off (now that’s a different invitation, eh?), I’m going to ask you to bring your shoes up to the front, lay them down, then pray for God to give you beautiful feet. How? By giving you the heart of a witness! That’s the best way to help those caught in the “No-One-Ever-Told-Me Syndrome.” Let’s tell them, shall we? [INVITATION]
