Presented on Ascension Sunday • May 24, 2020 • by Rev. Jesse Larson
Based on Luke 24: 44-53
Today’s text immediately follows Jesus joining the two disciples on the road to Emmaus just after his resurrection. Jesus is once again making further appearances before he is finally carried up to heaven. Indeed, we celebrate this Sunday as “Ascension Sunday”—honoring Christ’s journey to heaven.
What an intense, frightening time it must have been for all of these first disciples. They had just betrayed their leader, seen him put to death, and yet here he was among them again—sharing the bread and the cup with them, even reassuring them that they will “eventually be clothed with power from on high.” Perhaps the disciples felt the love movement was dashed, but Jesus was reaffirming to them that it was just beginning. He not only opened their minds to the scriptures, be he also declared that they were the witnesses to the good news of Jesus Christ.
Today’s text brings us to the conclusion of the Gospel of Luke. The disciples are charged with being Christ’s witnesses, and then, after Christ blesses them, he is carried up to heaven.
So I’m wondering what it means to be a witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Typically, we consider being witnesses to the good news as evangelism. And it is. But, over the many generations, evangelism has become a complicated endeavor. Some people feel the need to save souls at any cost; to force their views on to others in the most disrespectful of manners.
But I don’t feel that is real evangelism, or at least healthy evangelism. Evangelism is simply a Greek word for “good news.” So how do we share the good news with others in ways that are healthy, life-giving, even fun and easy?
I would like to propose the best way we can witness to the good news of Jesus Christ is to offer hope to others.
Hope is what gives us the energy to start a new day and to keep on keeping on, even when chaos and despair swirl all around us. If fact, I believe Jesus returned to his followers just after his resurrection because he knew they would need an injection of hope. He must have known they would have been so confused and heartbroken that he was no longer with them. Those earlier followers needed assurance just as we do today. We try our best to trust that when this life is over we will go on to be with God, but in the meantime, it’s hard not to give into our fears and become overwhelmed. So, to me, hope is a gift from God which helps to keep running the race before us. Hope declares, in spite of it all, that there is still a lot of good left in this world.
Hope is certainly something we can all use right about now. As we check in with one another each week, we all seem to be doing our best to tread water, but we all admit that some days are better than others. We can get a bit stir crazy in our homes. We keep grasping for something to hang on to in the future, and yet each day seems as uncertain as the previous one. Will there be a resurgence of the virus as the restrictions are lessened? With the economy collapse as the jobless rates explode? Will life ever be normal again? There is no doubt about it - these are heavy, unsettled days.
And yet, when we read this text, we are reminded about the good news of Jesus Christ. We are reminded that love overwhelms hate, life defeats death, and faith overcomes fear. We share in the same hope as the earliest disciples—that we are all witnesses to the good news of Jesus Christ.
So, I’d like you to take some time to think about how someone has given you the gift of hope. Has someone ever lifted your spirits? I don’t think it will be hard for you to answer this question, because when we are given hope, the experience has a way of sticking with us.
I was traveling in Chile last fall; I went down to Patagonia and explored a beautiful national park called “Torres Del Paine.” I thought I’d enjoy a leisurely two-hour hike, but it was closer to seven, and I hiked over 12 miles. Yes, I was never a Boy Scout! The final quarter-mile was a steep ascent up lots of rocks and snow. I was just spent. As I passed people who were on their return trip, I inquired about how much longer to the summit. They reported that I was close. Maybe 15 minutes left. But I just didn’t have any gas left in the tank. I was about to throw in the towel when I received some encouraging words from a young couple—they told me to keep going. The views were amazing; the pain was worth it. I was almost there. We chatted a bit while I caught my breath. I learned they were from Washington D.C. We shared a few laughs and I was then ready to keep pushing. I made it to the top, and the views were incredible—I felt like I was on Mars. It was one of the hardest hikes I’ve ever taken, and I don’t think I would have made it had it not been for the encouraging words of the young couple who took a few minutes to give me a boost of hope.
I’d like to hear your stories about hope. I would love for people to share their hope and faith stories during our interactive Zoom worship services. However, I not only hope that you will share them with our congregation, but I also hope you will share them with the world. Shine your light on behalf of Christ in a world shrouded in darkness.
Become a beacon of hope. In doing so, you will give people strength and perspective. You will shore them up to face their obstacles. You will even save lives. You will be a witness for the love of Jesus Christ and there is no better news. Amen.
