“What Do You Do When You’re In-between?”
April 22, 2007
The disciples had the time of their lives for about 3 and a half years. It all started at a party. Actually it was a wedding party. We don’t know who got married. We never learned their names. We do know that Mary, the Mother of Jesus was there. And we know she had great faith in Him. When they ran out of wine she instructed the servants to tell Jesus - and then do whatever he tells you to do. It makes me wonder if Jesus helped her out when she was in need. Did she say, “Jesus, we are out of flour. Could you give me a cup?” or “Jesus, we are out of olive oil. Do you think you could make me a couple of gallons?” I don’t know if anything like that happened – but Mary did have the faith that Jesus could do something about the wine shortage. And He did.
Shortly after that, Jesus walked along the shores of Galilee and down the dust roads of Judea and began to pick Him team. We call them disciples. But they were His team. They were His church family. They were His board members, so to speak. They were called and they followed - and for over three years they watched and were even involved in many miracles. They saw the lame and the sick healed. They saw the blind receive their sight. They saw the hungry fed. They saw Jesus walk on water. They even saw the dead brought back to life again. And they began to believe that Jesus was really the Messiah – the Son of God – the Savior of the world.
Don’t you think their hearts must have trilled at being a part of Jesus’ team when He began that triumphal march into Jerusalem? Do you think their chests swelled a little with pride when the people began to praise Jesus and take off their coats and place them in Jesus’ path? Do you think they felt pretty good when the people cut palm branches and waved them and cheered Jesus and hailed Him as the King of the Jews? On April 1st this year, we celebrated Palm Sunday and praised Jesus, ourselves, as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But it was less than a week later that Jesus was crucified. I suppose there were a few people that were a part of that crowd on Palm Sunday and who were also a part of the crowd during the crucifixion. Probably that Pharisee who yelled at Jesus to make the people stop praising Him at the Triumphal Entry was also one who screamed at Pilot to crucify Him on Good Friday. And they did. They crucified the sinless Lamb of God. They crucified the only perfect person who ever lived.
What do you think those disciples were going through then? In less that a week they had gone from potential rulers in the Kingdom of God to outlaws, fearing for their lives. They locked themselves behind closed doors. Peter probably wept a lot, ashamed of his failure and cowardly acts.
But in three days, Jesus came back to life. The bible says,
“… he was buried, and three days afterwards he arose from the grave just as the prophets foretold. He was seen by Peter and later by the rest of "the Twelve." After that he was seen by more than five hundred Christian brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now. Then James saw him, and later all the apostles. Last of all I saw him too, long after the others, as though I had been born almost too late for this.” 1 Cor 15:4-8 (Living)
How do you think Jesus’ team felt then? We see Mary Magdalene, who was saved from a life of sin and shame, falling at Jesus’ feet and worshipping Him. I imagine that Mary felt like Jesus was the only one to love her unconditionally; the only one who saw value in her; the only one who saw the potential in her. Then He was killed and when she saw Him alive – imagine how she must have felt.
And how about Peter? The brave boisterous one who failed. But Jesus, in spite of Peter’s cowardly deed, welcomed Him back into the fellowship. Not only that, but Jesus made him a leader. He knew that one act, or three acts, do not define our lives. Jesus forgave and restored and recommissioned Peter. What do you think that did for Peter?
Then there was our doubting friend – Thomas. Remember the story?
“When they kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord," he replied, "I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands--and put my fingers into them--and place my hand into his side."
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them and greeting them. Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger into my hands. Put your hand into my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!" John 20:25-27 (Living)
How do you think Thomas felt? The bible records that He said, “My Lord and My God!” What do you think he looked like when He said that? What do you think his voice sounded like when He said that? What do you think that experience did for Thomas for the rest of his life?
From Resurrection Day (which we call Easter) to the ascension of Jesus - was forty days. We know that Jesus appeared to His core team of disciples right after the resurrection and eight days later appeared again when Thomas was in the group. We know that he preached to a crowd of over five hundred during that time. We know that Jesus talked about the Kingdom. The bible says,
“During the forty days after his crucifixion he appeared to the apostles from time to time, actually alive, and proved to them in many ways that it was really he himself they were seeing. And on these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3 (Living)
And then, forty days after the resurrection came the ascension. The bible records it like this:
“It was not long afterwards that he rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving them staring after him.” Acts 1:9 (Living)
Jesus’ parting words were:
“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection." Acts 1:8 (Living)
How do you think the Jesus’ Team felt after seeing Jesus crucified, resurrected, and then ascended? Do you think that may have done something to their commitment level? When Jesus was teaching them and preaching to them during those forty days after the resurrection, do you think they listened carefully?
But there was one more event that was to take place that would rock their world. Jesus told them to hang around a little longer – until the Holy Spirit came upon them. So for ten days they had a prayer meeting. I have heard of old time revivals going for ten days – but never a prayer meeting. But they prayed - and waiting for something to happen. And then on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell upon them and gave them the power to do what Jesus had called them to do. They became witness to the nations. They went out and made disciples.
You do realize that Jesus calls us to do things we can’t possibly do on our own, don’t you? From living an obedient and sinless life to witnessing to the lost – we can not do it until the Holy Spirit gives us the power and the will. But when God, the Holy Spirit, comes – all things are possible. The possibilities are limitless.
Have you followed the special days of Jesus? Palm Sunday, the Crucifixion, Resurrection Sunday, Ascension, and then Pentecost. You may have your calendar marked. This year it’s: April 1st, Palm Sunday, April 6th, the Crucifixion, April 8th, Resurrection Sunday, May 17th, Ascension Day, and May 27th, Pentecost.
I’m not sure what all that means, but I do believe that God has a divine Calendar and everything comes about in His time. But what I want us to think about this morning is where we are in that sequence of events. I think most Christians today believe Jesus died for them and rose again to provide them with eternal life. And that’s good. A lot of Christians are in that forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension. They are in training. They are in the classroom. They want Jesus to teach them and prove Himself alive with many infallible proofs, as one version of the bible puts it. And we need to learn, don’t we. We all need to learn so much from Jesus. But there comes a time to leave the classroom. There comes a time we need to put into practice that which we have learned. Some Christians are career students. I’m not saying that we ever stop learning. But sometimes we are like people I have known who we kidded in college as being career students. They got their AA and BA and MA and were working for a PhD or another BA. I loved college and I would love to have the time to take class after class and have the time to study some subjects in-depth. But there comes a time we need to get out of the Word and into the world. There comes a time we need to practice what we have learned. We need to make those truths reality.
The disciples went from the classroom with Jesus into the prayer room. And some Christians are stuck in the prayer room. Now, don’t get me wrong. I believe all of us need to pray more – not less. I think we could accomplish so much more for the Lord if we would pray more. But we can’t get stuck up there in the upper room. When the Holy Spirit descends – we need to go out into the streets and to the towns and villages and the town square or wherever the Lord leads us – and begin to do what we are called to do. There comes a time to stop praying and start doing.
Where are you in your journey? If you have never accepted Jesus, you are wandering lost and aimless in the world. You need to hear Jesus calling you to be His disciple. If you are a Christian, but living in sin and fear, you are living before the crucifixion. You need to realize Jesus died for your sins and set you free from your addictions. He paid the penalty so you could be free from sin.
If you are living in fear of death and you dread what the future may bring. Global warming and nuclear war and the fear that the world spews out scares you half to death - means you may be living before the resurrection and the ascension. Jesus has conquered death. You have eternal life because of what He did. Because He lives – we live, too. You don’t need to fear the future. Our hope – our trusting expectation – is that God will keep His word and we will live forever.
If you have been a Christian for awhile, the temptation may be to tarry in the upper room and pray. It’s safe. We are among friends. It feels good. It’s familiar and comfortable. But we have a mission, team. We are called to go and make disciples. We are called to teach them to obey everything Jesus taught. Our mission is to make Christlike Disciples of the Nations. What are you doing about it? Let me suggest a couple of things.
First, pray. Second, learn as much as you can. We are in the midst of listening to the Bible up to Pentecost. We are learning and praying. But I want to challenge you, thirdly, to get into the world to share what you are learning. Start a Bible Study. Pray with some friends. Invite someone to church. Put feet to your prayers. Walk the talk. Let’s be that Christian team that Jesus can use today.
Jesus,
Help me to be used of you. Help me Jesus to get out of the comfort zone and into the battleground. Use me to be your hands and voice and heart.
In Jesus name.
I will Serve Thee
