Lesson
#13
The Old Testament:
And
Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD has sent me
to Jericho. And he said, [As] the LORD lives, and [as] your soul lives, I will
not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.
And the sons of the prophets that [were] at Jericho came to Elisha, and
said unto him, Know you that the LORD will take away your master from your head
to day? And he answered, Yea, I know [it]; hold you your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray
thee, here; for the LORD has sent me to Jordan. And he said, [As] the LORD
lives, and [as] your soul lives, I will not leave thee. And they two went
on. And fifty men of the sons of the
prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped [it]
together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so
that they two went over on dry ground.
And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto
Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And
Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. And he said, You hast asked a hard thing:
[nevertheless], if you see me [when I am] taken from thee, it shall be so unto
thee; but if not, it shall not be [so].
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold,
[there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both
asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2:4-11)
And you shall know that I [am] in the midst of Israel, and [that] I [am] the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. (Joel 2:27-29)
The
Gospel:
To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, [said he], you have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in his own power. But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:3-11)
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, You men of Judaea, and all [ye] that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is [but] the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, said God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: (Acts 2:1-18)
Description of the Ascension Window
· The Top Icon represents God's hand receiving Jesus and/or sending his spirit to the disciples on Pentecost. The three extended fingers are suggestive of the Trinity while the two retracted fingers represent the dual nature of Jesus – both human and divine. Directly under the hand is a descending dove reminding us of Jesus’ statement about him leaving so a comforter could come. In this window, the whole Trinity is represented by the hand of the Father, the Holy Spirit as a dove and Jesus the son.
· Main Window: Jesus, in glorious white (notice the wounds in his hands and feet), ascends into heaven on a cloud while accompanied by two angels who are dressed strangely with leafy wings and interesting watery crowns which extend upward. The disciples, most of whom are gazing upward, are asked by the angels ‘why do you stand gazing at the rising Christ – he will come back in a similar fashion’. In other words, ‘get going’.
· The Bottom Icon is representative of Elijah’s fiery chariot which took him to heaven in a whirlwind in a similar ascension.
This is a trick question, but when did the New Testament start? Most answer Matthew or one of the other gospels. And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives (Hebrew 9:15-17). According to Hebrews, it officially started with Jesus’ death. Following his resurrection, many believe that the church’s birthday was on Pentecost in Acts 2:4.
If a person didn’t know anything at all about the history of the last 2000 years and read the end of the gospels with the resurrection, ascension and empowering of the disciples, I doubt that person, or any, would come up with what has actually happened. The primal church had such great promises and opportunities. To be sure, parts of their mission were successful. After all, that you are reading these lessons about these great windows is testimony to the success of their historic missionary activity in the western world.
On the other hand, Jesus’ commission to go into all the world has resulted in a very fragmented body of Christ. We’ve had success but we probably should have done better.
In the classic Cotton Patch Gospel, a single actor plays all of the roles. In any scene with an angel, the actor holds his arms out side ways and kind of flaps as he is talking. After the angelic message, the angel always stands there looking at the person he is supposedly talking to seemingly awaiting a response that never comes. Then the angel flaps his arms some more and finally says, “Ok – Get going!!” The humor of this builds through the show from the first angelic appearances to Mary and Joseph, to the angels at the transfiguration, all the way to the angels at the ascension. By the time the disciples are staring dumbfounded at the risen Christ while listening to the angels, this little stunt works to great effect on most audiences.
I think the humor in this belies the fact that we can all see ourselves in this situation. We can certainly get carried away in the grandeur of a moment and totally lose focus on the task at hand. Obviously, there are times when this is totally appropriate and harmless such as when you are washing dishes and you notice how wonderful your children are as you drift away from the task at hand. On the other hand, driving through the mountains of Colorado can be breathtaking, but if you drift away from the task at hand, you’ll likely get to see one of those mountains a lot closer than you had intended.
The last parts of Jesus’ ministry on the earth had to be a magical time of unexpected miracles. Consider the emotional roller-coaster ride they had all been through. Their friend, teacher, master, etc. had just a few days earlier been beaten beyond comprehension and executed in one of the worst methods ever created. Then, he suddenly was alive again appearing at strange places to various disciples and doing tremendous signs and wonders. And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one in detail, I supposed that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:25 – the last verse of John).
Then there was that magical day when he ascended to heaven in a cloud. The show was over – at least for Jesus’ part in doing the miracles. However, there was that last command right before the clouds took him up. But you shall receive power, ability, efficiency and might when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and the ends – the very bounds – of the earth. And when he had said this, even as they were looking at him, he was caught up, and a cloud received and carried him away out of their sight (Acts 1:8-9). No wonder they were dumbfounded. Where was he going and what was that that he had just said to them?
One question that usually comes up about the life of Jesus is how did he do what he did? – with respect to his miraculous powers. To many, he was God’s divine son and therefore had the innate power to do ‘God things’. However, there is a lot more to this story.
Most standard theologies accept a dual nature to Jesus – one divine and one human. Without much effort, we can perhaps understand this. Most of us have certainly heard this before. To go further, there is the idea that he set aside his divine abilities so he could redeem man. The logic for this is as follows.
1. In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God (John 1:1). From this, and other scriptures, most deduce that Jesus was God.
2. Who [Jesus], although being essentially one with God and in the form of God, did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained; but stripped himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that he became like men and was born a human being (Phil 2:6-7). From this, many believe that although he was clearly God, he purposely set aside these abilities and lived on earth strictly as a human.
3. How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with strength and ability and power who went about doing good and in particular curing all that were harassed and oppressed by the power of the devil, for God was with him (Acts 10:38). From this, many believe that his own anointing by the spirit of God at his baptism gave him the power to do miracles.
4. This first of his signs, miracles, wonderworks [making water into wine] Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee (John 2:11). From this, many note that this first of his miracles only started after his baptism and anointing by the spirit of God.
5. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor; he has sent me to announce release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to send forth delivered those who are oppressed – who are downtrodden, bruised, crushed and broken down by calamity (Luke 4:18). This is often quoted as another proof text of the above idea – that Jesus had become merely a man who did what he did by the anointing of God’s spirit. After all, Messiah/Christ literally means the anointed one.
We can certainly ascribe the above to Jesus because he was, after all, Jesus. Who else would dare do such a thing? Well, the disciples found out that he promised something similar to them. In Luke chapter 9, Jesus bestows power on the 12 disciples and sends them out to do ministry and heal the sick. Later in chapter 10, Jesus sends out an additional 70 bestowed with the same mission and power. The seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name! (Luke 10:17). Obviously, whatever Jesus had was transferable.
To further drive this point home, consider: I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if any one steadfastly believes in me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the father… and I will ask the father, and he will give you another comforter (counselor, helper, intercessor, advocate, strengthener and standby) that he may remain with you forever (John 14:12,16).
In my opinion, Jesus’ primary purpose was to redeem humanity to its rightful state of being with God. John Wesley believed this process is divinely instigated in every person leading one to salvation and on to sanctification – a complete rightful and righteous state of being. I think this is what Jesus wanted for his disciples. I also think it is what they got. You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect [that is, grow into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity] (Mat 5:48).
Prior to the crucifixion, Peter couldn’t seemingly do anything right. He certainly earned an A for effort being the one who jumped out of the boat trying to walk on the water and the one who kept making promises that he couldn’t keep. However, all of these impulsive actions ultimately failed him. But, after Peter received the power that Jesus promised at Pentecost, Peter was forever a different man. This same Peter, who denied Christ three times, was suddenly giving the sermon of his life and brought 3000 new believers into the fold (Acts 2:41). After this sermon, it even got better. While Peter and John were walking by the temple, a man lame since birth asked for a donation. Peter said, Silver and gold, I have none; but what I do have, that I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk! (Acts 3:6). Later, even Peter’s shadow healed people (Acts 5:15).
Prior to his conversion, Paul was a zealous religious person who even murdered to further his cause. After his conversion and subsequent anointing, he raised people from the dead (Acts 20:9-10) and became arguably the most important of the early believers thanks to his epistles.
So what went wrong? How could this fledgling group of disciples with so much power devolve into hundreds of denominations at times attacking and killing each other in the name of Jesus? The story is complicated and long. What follows is a very condensed version of Church history by me.
There is a recent theology explaining why the church seemingly became powerless based on something Paul said. Love never fails: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (1 Cor 13:8-10). This is interpreted, by some, as meaning that these great powers given the disciples by Jesus were to fade away when the perfect thing came. In this theology, the Bible is that perfect thing. So, according to this belief, virtually all signs and wonders ceased within a generation after the crucifixion. In fact, such appears to be the case. Forty years after the crucifixion, the temple was destroyed and that previous way of life for both Jews and Christians came to a sudden end.
To be sure, the ancient church didn’t necessarily believe this. To them, the perfect one was Jesus himself. Although they didn’t habitually attempt to practice the gifts of the spirit, they nonetheless believed in them. As the church centralized and broke apart and reformed, there was a gradual attempt at restoring the Christianity practiced by the primitive disciples. The reformation reinstated the concept of salvation by faith. The Wesley brothers went further by exploring the expected result of Christian life resulting from a salvation experience. Their methods of achieving a holy life [sanctification] became the modern day Methodist church. This much of church history all happened in the 1700 or so years after Jesus left.
Following the 1st Great Awakening (c 1700’s), which occurred due to the efforts of the Wesley’s and puritans such as Jonathan Edwards, the traditional church seemingly hit a wall. All churches, from the Methodist church back through the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Catholic, have similar methods of structure and worship. Another revolution was right around the corner in the church’s evolution.
The 2nd Great Awakening (c 1800’s) found a lot of believers totally abandoning much of any traditional worship in an attempt at reclaiming the primitive church structure and worship of the 1st century. The resulting churches from this movement include most of the various flavors of Baptists, the Churches of Christ, the 7th Day Adventists, the Mormons, etc. Interestingly, they all claim that they do things based on the way the 1st century church did such as baptize by immersion. There is often a heavy emphasis on the epistles as a structure for Church government, rules and regulations. Some have no musical instruments whatsoever based on such an emphasis. Interestingly, it is this group of churches that more often promote the end of signs and wonders based on Paul’s statement to the Corinthians quoted above.
In the late 1800’s, many American Christians were still looking for more – especially following the horrors of the Civil war. An interesting mix of Baptists got together with some Methodists and a yet another movement of the church was born. These Baptists were filled with spiritual hunger and desire to find God’s will for themselves. In their spiritual journey, they were introduced to John Wesley’s theology of holiness and sanctification. The result of this revival born of such searching was an outpouring of God’s spirit seemingly similar to the original outpouring of God’s spirit at Pentecost. Thus, the modern Pentecostal church was born, which gave rise to the more exuberant Charismatic movement of the 1960’s.
To
some, this reintroduction of spiritual gifts was a sure sign of Satan entering
and taking over the church with lying wonders. To be sure, most who believe this strongly hold to the
interpretation given to Paul’s quote
above. To others, this reintroduction
of signs and wonders happened some 40 or so years prior to the reestablishment
of the state of Israel in 1948. In
other words, we may have come full circle and haven’t even realized it! I mentioned above that Jesus promised the
disciples empowerment right before he ascended. Right before promising this empowerment to them, he had this to
say: So when they [disciples] were
assembled they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when you will reestablish the
kingdom and restore it to Israel? He
said to them, It is not for you to become acquainted with and know what time
brings – the things and events of time and their definite periods – fixed years
and seasons (their critical nick of time), which the father has appointed
(fixed and reserved) by his own choice and authority and personal power (Acts 1:6-7). No one knew it at the time, but that appointed re-establishment
of Israel may have been set for 1948.
Makes you go hmmmm, doesn’t it.
There is an old statement about Christians being so heavenly-minded that they are of no earthly good. These Christians are like those disciples who were continually looking toward heaven. The reverse of this might be a Christian who is so earthly-minded that there is hardly any obvious spirituality.
Jesus said we were to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Finding the balance here is key. Like my kids discovering how to use salt, some Christians can come across as too salty. There have been several plates of over-salted eggs that we have had to throw away. On the other hand, other Christians can be bland and salt-less. Grits are a wonderful southern invention, but they would be absolutely nothing with out salt.
The concept of being light is similar. Too much light is blinding and can even scorch or burn. On the other hand, there is much stumbling in a dark room whereby even a little illumination is welcomed.
The key would seem to be moderation as we realize the importance of our calling. After all, he literally said we are the salt and the light of the world. If we don’t do it, no one else will. As the angels instructed the disciples at the ascension, let’s get to it.
I might add that the angels also said, This same Jesus, who was caught away and lifted up from among you into heaven will return in just the same way which you saw him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). If we have indeed come full circle with the reestablishment of the state of Israel, the fulfillment of this angelic promise might be right around the corner too!
In memory of Betty Lamon Harbor
