“Being Witnesses to These Things”
Luke 24:36-48
Heritage Sunday, May 4, 2003
Purpose: Just as the disciples were “witnesses” so to are we! This sermon looks at what we’ve witnessed and how to be a witness to others.
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We have been witnesses…
As 2003 continues to move at a rapid pace (hint to all: Mother’s Day is next Sunday ), we also my be aware that this year we celebrate some important milestones in history…
We have witnessed a centennial…
100 years ago few people thought man would ever fly. But the two sons of Rev. Milton Wright, on Dec. 17, 1903, showed the world that it could it done. At 10:35 a.m., Wilbur and Orville made their first successful flight of 175 feet in an airplane driven by a four-cylinder combustion engine. Today, we fly much more sophisticated crafts around the moons of Juniper and beyond.
100 years ago, it seemed impossible, but today we’ve witnessed the evidence of that first flight all around us.
We’ve witnessed a tricentennial…
300 years ago, at a time when the borders of the U.S. stretched from the Atlantic to the Mississippi River, Napoleon, on the verge of war with Great Britain, gave this nation an 828,000 square mile piece of land at about three cents per acre. On May 2, 1803, the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States.
300 years ago it seemed impossible, but today we’ve witnessed the evidence of that great purchase as our nation now stretches from Atlantic to Pacific.
And we’ve witnessed another tricentennial…
300 years ago on June 17, 1703, a young boy name John was born to Rev. Samuel and Suzanna Wesley in Epworth, England. It was perhaps no surprise when the boy grew up to follow his father’s example. What was a surprise was the kind of ministry he implemented.
He formed a small religious study group, which put special emphasis on the methodical study of the Scriptures and devotion to the poor. They had communion often, fasted twice a week, and as they grew, they added other things: social services, visiting prisoners, and schools. Onlookers jeered them by calling them just a bunch of “methodists.”
Today that name “Methodist” has stuck. In fact, in almost every town in this country, there is evidence of John Wesley.
300 years ago it seemed impossible, but today if combined, there are more churches with a Weslyan heritage in the world than any other Protestant faith.
And these are just three. There are events in our own lives that we have witnessed as we’ve shared earlier. They are the witnessed events that amaze us, fill us with joy, and make it wonder whether it is possible. Sometimes it is hard to believe, even standing on this side of history, that these things were ever accomplished. But because of witnesses, we know them to be true.
Today, we’re going to look at another set of witnesses…
200 years ago, it was an impossible situation when 11 men gathered to discuss in private to plan their next move. They were frightened and confused. Life seemed to be closing in on them and it was not possible for them to continue their three-year-old ministry as they had originally intended.
The facts were these:
They were betrayed by one of their own.
The crowds that had once cheered them had now turned against them.
Their leader had been executed.
They had denied their relationship to him.
And any further development of their leader’s ideals, would almost certainly lead to their deaths as well.
But into this scene walks the last person they had expected to see. In fact, his presence startled them. But with the words “Peace be with you” their leader, who was thought to be gone, now stood before them in a way that forgave their past, brought joy to their present, and secured their future.
2000 years ago it seemed impossible that Jesus Christ would be alive once again, but today we are witnesses to the Resurrection, which not only changed the disciples lives, filling them with joy, strength, and courage, but also changed ours as we continue to follow that very same leader to this day.
(eSermons.com)
Personal Illustration…SMC graduation
…Dr. Illene Shaffer - had to be “inclusive” – in the last letter(three days before the commencement)
…still prayed for salvation, still asked the speaker’s words to be God’s words
…still prayed in the name of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer
…why? because I felt that I still needed to “witness”
For me this was an excellent exercise…
I could have said “no.” In fact, I probably would have if given earlier notice. But the programs had already been printed and Wakelee’s name was already out there.
Instead I witnessed to the saving message of Jesus Christ in a language that they could accept.
The point - In whatever situation we may find ourselves, we are still called to be witnesses.
Jesus said to his disciples… “This is what is written: ‘The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things…” - Luke 24:46-48.
It is the same message given by the prophet Isaiah who said in the 43rd chapter starting with the 8th verse,
“Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this? Which of them foretold this and proclaimed to us the former things? Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified so that others may hear and say, ‘It is true.’
‘You are my witnesses,’ declares the Lord. ‘and my servant whom I have chosen., so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am God” – Isaiah 42:8-10
And since the risen Christ proclaimed it to the disciples, and God foretold it through the prophet, just how do we become these witnesses in our day and age?
For the answer we turn to the familiar portion of Scripture found in Hebrews chapter 12,
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” – Hebrews 12:1-2
100, 200, 300 years from now, people will look back at this generation and what they will see will be in direct correlation to our witness. We are the witnesses that are charged with continuing the message.
Petersen’s paraphrased translation, recites Hebrews 12:1-3 in this fashion…
“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running, and never quit. No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God---he could put up with anything along the way: cross; shame, whatever. And now he’s there; in the place of honor, right alongside God.
When you find yourselves flagging in your faith; go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
Webster defines a witness as “one who has seen or heard something, one that has furnished evidence, one who is called upon to testify…”
What is our Godly witness this morning?
Are we willing to share it with any means necessary?
Are we able share what Christ has done for us, so that he may do the same for others?
Are we ready to lay aside those things that so easily ensnare us looking unto Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith?
May this be the time when our Christian heritage in which we’ve found the benefits of faith, be the foundation for us to witness that faith to others.
Jesus said, “You are the witnesses to these things….” By His grace, may it be so!
Will you join me in prayer….
Lord,
We are indeed your witnesses. You have told us through your prophets, through the Gospel writers, and through the letters to the churches, that we are the ones you have called to be witnesses to all that you have done for us in the world in which we live.
Lord, there are times when we are willing and able to witness to our faith, for those times give us the opportunities and the guidance of your Spirit to make our words your own.
And there are times when we are anything but willing. Forgive us when we miss opportunities, when we fail to trust solely in your abilities, when we forget to lay aside the burden and trust in the author and finisher of our faith for guidance.
Help us to recognize all that we have been given. Help us to furnish the evidence. Help us to testify.
So that when the opportunity arises, we may be the witness that you have called us to be.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
#717 – Battle Hymn
Closing Benediction…
May God, the Father, give us the strength.
May Jesus, the Son, give us the reason.
May the Spirit, give us the guidance.
As we go from this place as witnesses to our faith in the world in which we live.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we pray…Amen
Note: If for any reason you did not find this sermon helpful, please let me know by contacting me at gb@clergy.net. Your input will help me personally and my congregation as I learn professionally.
