New Philly News June | July 2018
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Across the (Associate) Pastor’s Desk A few
And we have not seen Jesus. We all know that Jesus, physically, left this world long long ago. weeks ago was Ascension Sunday. This is one of those days on the church calendar that tends Sometimes a witness is someone who knows something; like an “expert witness” in a trial. to be overlooked or ignored. Unlike Christmas when we celebrate Jesus’ birth, or Easter when It’s someone whose knowledge of an issue or subject is unchallenged. I don’t think any of us we celebrate his resurrection, or even Pentecost when we celebrate the coming of the Holy are arrogant enough to consider ourselves “expert” witnesses on behalf of Jesus. There is just Spirit, we don’t pay too much attention to the too much about Jesus that we don’t (and can’t) ascension. Although we could speculate as to know. So we have a little bit of trouble when why this is the case, there is really no way of we hear Jesus say: “You will be my witnesses”. knowing. It just is. And we try to pretend he didn’t say it, we preFor the most part, it’s not a big deal that we tend that we aren’t supposed to do it. But, the ignore the ascension. It is certainly not as essenfact is, that is who we are. tial to our faith as Christmas, Easter, or Pentecost. But when we do, we do miss out on some- We are Jesus’ witnesses. We are the ones who thing pretty important. Just before he ascended are supposed to tell what we have seen and share what we know. We are supposed to tell into heaven, Jesus shares his “last words” with what we have seen of Jesus, of his love, of his his followers, he tells them: “you will be my grace, of his forgiveness. We are supposed to witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 share what we know about Jesus, about who he is and what he does. These are things we have These are important words, not only for Jesus’ seen and we do know, even if we have never followers then, but also for us, Jesus’ followers physically seen Jesus in the flesh, even if we now. When Jesus said “you will be my witnessdon’t see ourselves as “experts” about Jesus. es” he wasn’t just talking to those who were We see Jesus’ love every time we love one anthere with him that one day that he ascended other and allow ourselves to be loved. We see into heaven. Jesus was also talking to us. To Jesus’ grace every time we realized how blessed us and to everyone who believes in his name, we are and allow ourselves to be blessings to everyone who claims him as Savior and Lord. These words call us to do something. They put others. We see Jesus’ forgiveness every time we acknowledge our sins and seek forgiveness from a challenge before us. Jesus and from one another. We know who JeJesus is telling us that we will be his witnesses. sus is by this love, by this grace, by this forgiveHe is not asking us, he is not even commanding ness. So we can do it. We can be Jesus’ witness. us like he did when he said: “Love one anothWe can heed his last words. And we can witer”. Nor is he commissioning us: “Go therefore ness to his love, his grace, his forgiveness. We and make disciples of all nations”. Jesus is simhave seen it and we do know it. So let us tell it, ply stating a fact “You will be my witnesses.” let us share it, let us live it. And that is what makes it such a challenge. Witnessing with you, Pastor Joe A witness is someone who has seen something.