How Do You Experience Jesus?

How Do You Experience Jesus?

Good Morning Friends,

After the crucifixion and resurrection two events happen that are very important. One is the gifting of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the second is the Ascension, which has always reminded me of the convergence of the Shekinah glory with the resurrected Christ. It is so much like the Transfiguration for it hints at our own transformation beyond the law and prophets to something more. So, today’s scripture shares with us the fact that Christians have two hopes related to these events that can guide our lives. You see, the hope of the return of Jesus regulates our behavior and the hope of the Holy Spirit engages us and guides us towards our own convergence. Both events set a certain expectation that should motivate us and really, they are more similar than most even consider. Now today’s scripture indicates we have better things to be doing than looking at clouds and stars. Maybe that is because we really do not need to be looking for Jesus’ return as much as experiencing Jesus through the power of the comfort and conviction of the Holy Spirit. We need to be going about our assigned tasks in a mature relationship with God. How Do You Experience Jesus?

Scripture: So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:5-11 (NRSV)

Message: Today we get a hint at how the story of Jesus…the story of Bible ends, but to truly experience it we must have a revelation for it does not come through an historic understanding of Christ or a communal interaction with other believers alone. You see our story and the story of Jesus need to converge in the stream of Holy History and so we need to begin with that story in our minds and hearts. One gets a sense of the importance of this the longer one lives and eventually we hopefully realize that more of what happens in our lives is because of what God is doing rather than what each of us our doing. We must submit. Still, we have a role in the experience, for good relationships take the hard work of faith, hope, love and commitment on all parties’ parts. This is especially true in our experience of God collectively and in the personal presence of Jesus in our lives as Christ’s character becomes ingrained in our story so we can witness and experience the role of Christ in the History of all creation including our own.

Pray we ask God for help. Pray we seek Jesus. Pray we wait for guidance. Pray we repent of those things that separate us from God and each other. Pray we listen and allow Jesus to show us the truth through scripture and the Holy Spirit. Pray we be a witness to Christ in our life through word and deed. Pray we ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit and its fruit. Pray we love. Pray we make wise choices. Pray we have a friend in Jesus now and forever more.

Blessings,

John Lawson