So I Send You...and Do Not Think Its on Your Piety and Power!

I am reading John 20:19-31 for the lectionary, gospel passage for Sunday.  In this passage the resurrected Jesus shows up in the room where his disciples are gathered and maybe hiding out.  Jesus says "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."   When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  For me its a fat, fastball waist high and just a enough inside.  I have to swing. 

Jesus having been resurrected sends the disciples out empowered by the Spirit to be a people of forgiveness. 

Then in Acts 3, which is not the lectionary passage, but precedes it and gives it proper context, we have this story of Peter and John healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate.  And afterward when the Israelites are amazed and astonished at this healed man Peter speaks up, saying...

  "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?  13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.  14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you,  15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.  16 And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

Don't think its because of our piety or power!  It is the Spirit.  The Spirit Jesus breathes on them.  The Spirit of Pentecost that blew through the people (Acts 2)  Spirit empowered, Spirit led mission grounded in the life, death and resurrection in Jesus Christ is what is necessary.  Of course you might say.  But even as I prepare for Session (leadership team) tonight, do I trust the leading and power of the Spirit?  How do I cultivate as a pastor the garden for discerning the Spirit? 

Well first of all the place is not where we gather.  They are out there in there everyday going about when they encounter this man.  They give him Jesus.  I would say John 20 is a missional passage, at least its one of the go to passages for missional justification.  God sends us.  Got it.  Acts 3 is a missional encounter and engagement.  I meet many people who are lame in different ways.  I don't believe that if I were to say to them, what I have to give you I give in the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk and that that the man would be totally healed.  And for those who I have said such things, there have been a few and they did not walk I continue in faith.  What do we have to give in Jesus name?  John 20 tells us we are to give forgiveness.  We are to forgive others.  Go and forgive.  How are you doing on that one? 

Easter is not about gathering in a room.  Its not simply a Sunday in Spring.  Its about going.  Its about going out to be a force of forgiveness.  The world needs that right?  Jesus thought so.  What if we ask the Spirit to show us  those in our going about who need forgiveness?  Are they in our neighborhood, our house, our workplace, our school or sitting in the pew next to us on Sunday?  Why don't we ask the Spirit to show us where we still need forgiveness?  Easter in us and use us to easter in others. 

Comments

[janet e.]

Yay! I'm so glad you're back! I enjoy having something to start thinking about prior to Sunday's sermon.

BTW...I see hope in the green leaves against your "ugly" background!

[Doug Resler]

Easter in us and Easter in others...now that's a profound thought to chew on! So right in so many ways, my friend! Thanks for the post-Easter reflection!