May 27, 2001 Luke 24:44-53
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Follow the leader is a classic game. Almost all of us have played it at one time or another. The basic concept of the game is that one person is designated as the “leader” - and then he will go through different kinds of motions - whether it be jumping over a barrel, crawling through a tube, or whatever - and the designated “followers” will then try to stay close behind him. Life is full of “leaders” and “followers”. Some of you may like to lead, while others may like to follow - and that’s ok. We need both in life. If everyone was a leader - we wouldn’t get much done in this life. The problem with following, is that some people aren’t very easy to follow. You see, there’s a difference between a good leader and a weak leader. Leaders need certain qualities in order to be successful. Today we’re going to look at those qualities. As we look at those, we’ll see that Jesus was a leader - a good leader. Because of that - we’ll also see that -
It’s Easy to Follow Our Leader
I. Because he clarifies Himself
A confusing directive was recently issued by a British Admiral. It read: “It is necessary for technical reasons, that these warheads be stored bottom-side-up, that is, with the top at the bottom and the bottom at the top. That there be no doubt which is the bottom, and which is the top, each warhead has been labeled with the word top!” Here’s a notice from the Lewiston, Idaho, Tribune: “The crossword puzzle which should have appeared in today’s Tribune appeared instead in yesterday’s, together with the answer to the puzzle that should have been printed yesterday. Therefore, the puzzle that should have appeared yesterday is in today’s Tribune, together with the answer to Wednesday’s puzzle. The puzzle for today and the answer to the one that should have been printed yesterday are reprinted.” How can you follow such directions?
What is my point? It’s a lot easier to follow when you can understand what you’re supposed to do. The first requirement of a good leader is that he is clear in his instructions. It is important that the follower know exactly what the leader wants - and sometimes why the leader wants what he or she wants. If you don’t know WHAT your leaders is talking about or sometimes WHY he’s doing what he’s doing - he’s hard to follow.
How many times did Jesus have to EXPLAIN what he was saying or what he was doing? In Matthew 15 Peter said to Jesus - Matthew 15:15-16 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them.. Time and again Jesus was explaining himself to them - so they would understand WHAT he was talking about. It says in Matthew 16:21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. You can’t get any clearer than what Jesus was saying. But the disciples didn’t want to let go of the notion that Jesus DIDN’T come to be a bread king - someone who gives me popularity - food - fame and fortune.
As a good leader - Jesus clarified himself time and again. And today’s text is no different. The first portion of this text either takes place just prior to Jesus’ ascension or right after he appears in the upper room to his disciples. At any rate - he explains himself saying - “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day. It was very clear in the Bible - the Old Testament - that Jesus would have to suffer and rise from the dead. It should have been no surprise. But the disciples just couldn’t get it. So what finally had to happen? Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. I almost envision the disciples heads shaped in the size of a big can of fruit - but without a can opener. It doesn’t matter how much you beat it - or speak to it - finally you need a can opener to get it open. That’s what our text says - Jesus OPENED their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Then, finally - the light turned on.
There are certain basic truths laid out in the Bible that seem almost elementary to us as Lutheran Christians. We are born dead in sin. We are all deserving of eternal hell. The only way that we are saved is through the death and resurrection of Christ. The only way we can get this faith is if Christ - like with the disciples - opens our minds and brings us to faith. The directives for our life in the Bible are plain - “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness - and all these things will be given to you.” Our leader is CLEAR. Let me say it again - our leader is CLEAR.
The problem is that we are DULL - just like the disciples. What do I mean? Do you find yourself wondering what to do or say - when the answer is really not that hard? For instance, your child refuses to do his chores. And instead of doing anything, you sit and ponder and try and philosophize about exactly what the best “treatment” should be for him or her. Your neighbor says to you, “I believe we all worship the same God and we’ll all get to heaven some day,” and you think to yourself, “boy, that’s not right.” But you say, “that’s interesting” because you’re just not sure what to say. Do you find yourself becoming angry or upset when God’s Word is clear on how you should treat your spouse or children or boss - because you don’t want to do it? These are all clear indicators that we are still dull. It’s almost as if there a lid over our heads that needs opening because even though we’ve heard what’s true - even though we’ve been directed by God what to do - it just doesn’t sink in. Why is that? It’s our own fault. There is no excuse.
But there is an answer. Just as Jesus opened the disciples minds - he can open yours! All it took was for Jesus to simply but very methodically laid out the Scriptures for them - so they could CLEARLY understand what God’s will was in his life - that he was SUPPOSED to die and rise from the dead. The Bible is the key.
There has to come a point in our lives where we go from HEARING it to GETTING it. If you don’t get it. Hear it. If you still don’t get it, hear it some more. And the beauty of it is that Christ wants to open your mind - he will open your mind so that you have a clearer understanding of what His love is all about. He’ll give you a greater understanding of what to do in situations - so you can apply scriptural principles and live with better conviction. A part of the OPENING that Christ is talking about - involves a CLOSING of the reason. The opening of the mind that Christ brings enables you to say, “ok - I’m saved by grace. Ok, I’ll stay faithful even though I don’t get along with my spouse at the time. Ok, I’ll come to church, even though I’m tired.” The great thing about this text is that it is proof that Christ can and WILL do that for you. Why? Because He is a good leader who speaks to us CLEARLY.
II. Because he envisions our future
Have you ever gone downstairs in your house, diddled around, and then forgot what you went down there for in the first place? It’s frustrating sometimes following my brain around when I don’t know where it’s leading me. Jesus - as a leader - knew where he was leading his disciples. He had completed a very essential part of His mission on earth. He died and rose from the dead - earning the salvation of the world. But the work wasn’t done yet. As a true leader - he wanted to get his followers involved. So He proceeded - just before His ascension - to lay out clearly where he wanted his disciples to go - and why he wanted them to go there. He didn’t leave them wondering what they should do next.
He told his disciples - repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Jesus did not call his disciples to preach how to get rich and be successful. He didn’t commission his disciples to make as many friends as they could. His commission was simple. Preach repentance and forgiveness of sins. Take the hammer of God’s law - and show the people what they deserve. Open up the mirror of the law and shine it in the dark recesses of the prideful human heart. Reveal to the people their wickedness. And then fill their souls with the blood of Christ. Pour the waters of baptism on them and cleanse their souls from acts that lead to death. Set them free! And when they stood and stared at the sky after Jesus ascended into heaven, what did the angel say? “What are you standing there for staring in the sky?” What did they mean with that? Weren’t they insinuating - “it’s time to get to work!”
That is your commission as well. God did not place you on this earth just to be good at sports and then get old and have sore knees. He didn’t put you here to build a nice house that will some day rot away. He didn’t give you a mouth to use vulgar language or spout forth meaningless poems. He didn’t give you a brain to have you fill it with worthless facts and disgusting thoughts. Any heathen can do that. As Christians, called by Christ - we all have one commission on this earth. Even if you can’t preach like angels or speak like Paul - all of you can tell the love of Jesus - you can say he died for all. Whether you’re a garbage man or a lawyer or a student or a mom - ultimately - some way we need to ask ourselves - “how is this helping me fulfill the great commission?” Am I earning an income to send out world missionaries? Do I have an opportunity to share my faith with my co-workers or classmates?
Isn’t that a great thing to know? Jesus doesn’t leave his followers with “doldrums”. Nothing was so feared by seamen in the days when ocean vessels were driven by wind and sail as the doldrums. The doldrums is a part of the ocean near the equator, abounding calms, squalls, and light, baffling winds. There the weather is hot and extremely dispiriting. The old sailing vessels, when caught in doldrums, would lie helpless for days and weeks, waiting for the wind to begin to blow. Jesus gives us something to do! My calling on earth is not just to make money or to play sports or be popular! Even if I lose my earthly job - I still have a duty to fulfill - spread the gospel! Even if the children I care for perish - I still have other souls to feed! I don’t have to sit around and wonder, “what should I do now?” I know what to do and what God wants me to do. Jesus has a clear future for me - to preach the gospel. My leader has planned my future. As Ephesians 2 says, we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
III. Because he enables us to fulfill our calling
There’s a lot of talk - a lot of it - today - about possibility thinking. The idea behind it is that if I think and really believe I can do - I can. And people eat this stuff up. They think - hey - I can make millions of dollars - if I want to! I can be a professional athlete - if I just put my mind to it! I can look like Arnold Schwartzenegger, if I want to! There is a point to not thinking that everything you do will fail. But the other side of it fails to realize that we are weak and sinful human beings. We DO have limitations. Severe limitations. Being born dead in sin and having a sinful nature even after God converts us - those are just a few. Even as Christians Paul said we are but weak clay vessels. We are not little gods in development just waiting to find our strength. A good leader needs to recognizes that every person has strengths and weaknesses. He can’t give his followers more than possible.
Jesus had given his disciples a huge task! And to a point they were qualified, for Jesus said, You are witnesses of these things. They had witnessed what Jesus had done and knew what to say. They had seen and lived with Jesus. However, Jesus was now leaving them visibly. And Jesus didn’t just tell them to preach the Gospel in Jerusalem. He expanded their duties to ALL nations.
As a good leader - Jesus realized that in and of themselves - the disciples COULD NOT do this by themselves. But as a good leader Jesus also did what he could to equip his followers to do what they were supposed to do. So that’s what Jesus then proceeded to do - I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Instead of leaving them to fend for themselves - he promised them that the Holy Spirit would equip them with the ability and opportunity to reach out to the world. And then, as Jesus ascended to heaven - he blessed his people - setting them aside as His chosen instruments to carry on the Gospel to the world. When Jesus ascended to heaven - He then went on to a new mode of ruling - invisibly - powerfully - over all things to the glory of His name.
As World War continued on, it became obvious that the Japanese - although losing the war - would not go quietly. Even though we would be able to win battles, we couldn’t break their spirit. The war was going to cost thousands of American lives before it was ever finished. But when the Atom Bomb was completed - this new weapon changed the outlook of the war. With this new weapon, we were able to have the war ended in a number of days instead of months. It changed the whole complex of the war. In the same way - Jesus didn’t leave his hapless and weak disciples without the ability to perform their duty. He promised to give his disciples not just the help of angels - but the Holy Spirit. He told them that He Himself would be with them always. He assured them of His blessing. As a true leader - he enabled his disciples to fulfill the impossible task of spreading the Gospel to all nations - and they did it.
My friends, our leader is leading us into unchartered territories - every day. As we try to reach out with the Gospel - we are facing people with seriously messed up lives. We are facing more opposition. The waves are higher than they’ve ever been before. The winds are greater. The dangers are high. And we are weak clay vessels. We have cracks. We are vulnerable. But our assurance is that the same Holy Spirit that was promised to the disciples is given to us. Our assurance is that the same Word that they received - we have received. Jesus will not lead us into where His grace cannot keep us. As long as we are filled with the Holy Spirit - we will continue on. We will endure the winds and waves of life. We will continue to spread the Gospel.
When you think of Christopher Columbus - most of you might think of him as a great leader who led us into the New World. But famous as he is - has also been associated with the epitome of confusion. Why? First of all, He didn’t know where he was going. Second of all, when he got there, he didn’t know where he was. And finally, when he got back he didn’t know where he’d been. That is confusion - not leadership.
We have a leader who knew where he was going - Jesus was going to the cross. When he got up and down from the cross - he knew where He’d been. Before our leader went on to rule this world invisibly, he gave us a vision - showing us where to go - to all nations. He tells us how to get there - by using the Law Gospel. He promises to be with us and give us his Holy Spirit. And He promises us that our place in heaven is prepared through him. Thanks to our leader, we know where we’re going. Therefore, is easy to follow our Leader. Amen.
