1 June 2014 - mission

1 June 2014 - mission

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

Isn't this us as well?  We see the risen LORD.  We worship him.  But we can't shake these nagging doubts.  We see our hopes fulfilled and yet begin to question whether our hopes were enough.  This world that surrounds us still appears much as it did before Jesus rose.  If we just look around us we might despair.  We share the sentiments of the apostles who ask, "Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"  We have seen death defeated in you, they imply, can the world stay the same?  It looks the same still.  Did we misunderstand?

“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

We did not misunderstand.  Jesus has indeed been filled with power.  The prophecy is now fulfilled where the "One like a son of man" is presented before the ancient of days.

He received dominion, splendor, and kingship;
all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed (cf. Dan. 7:13-14).

He is leaving, but he "mounts his throne to shouts of joy".  Filled with resurrection power he takes his seat to reign over all of creation.  The Father is "seating him at his right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come."

But the question remains.  Why does the world look the same?  It is because the world is now entering into the age of the Church.  No one saw this coming.  The Jews expected the messiah to wrap things up the first time through.  They didn't know that the LORD would want to use them to spread his victory to the world.  But it Jesus wants it to be not just through him but also through his people that all the nations of the earth be blessed.  Just as our first parents were called to be fruitful and multiple, so now his Church is called to birth children for him, brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

And so the age of the Church must also be the age of the Spirit.  Through the Spirit the resurrected life and victory of Jesus reigning in heaven is made available to us here and now and even "until the end of the age."

While meeting with the them,
he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for “the promise of the Father
about which you have heard me speak;
for John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

So let's not stand here "looking at the sky."  Jesus is coming back.  But before that, we have work to do.  We need to proclaim him to the whole world.

For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.