In what ways do we bear witness to Jesus?

This morning we have heard words about God,

and we said these words about God as we have sung,
as we have prayed,
and as we baptised xxx.
We have also spoken to God we have also spoken to God in our prayers and our songs.

In our gospel reading this morning we hear part of Jesus prayer for his disciples, and that includes us. Often when we think about prayer we think about praying to God or to Jesus; but here Jesus is praying for the disciples, those present at the time and those yet to come, and that includes us, modern-day disciples.

I wonder what it means for us to be part of a community that Jesus prays for? Does this change the way you think about church?

The reading from the book of Acts refers to the ascension of Jesus, and I'm not going to try and explain that particular part of the story today :-).

I want us to think today about the part that talks about us being witnesses: “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."

Next Sunday is the day the church celebrates Pentecost, the coming of the holy spirit. Here just before the ascension Jesus again tells his followers that the holy spirit will come upon them. But it isn't just that they have the holy spirit, it is that they will be witnesses to Jesus in all the known world.

I wonder in what ways we bear witness to Jesus?

Maybe the prior question is what do we want to say about Jesus?

Do we want to talk about judgement, grace, forgiveness, sacrifice, peace,….

With most people we don't get to tell them the whole story, we don't get to talk about God's action in creation, liberation, salvation. We don't get to talk about the whole story of Jesus and how he taught and healed and welcomed outcasts. Often we don't get to use the words God and Jesus at all, because people see what we do, how we treat each other and other people.

In what ways do we bear witness to Jesus?

In the Acts reading we have the disciples looking towards heaven,

watching the last spot they saw Jesus, and two men in white robes stood before them – where have we met men in white robes in before? The resurrection story.

These particular men are recorded by Luke as asking the disciples why are they looking to the heavens?

I wonder where do we look for Jesus being active in the world today. Do we stand around wondering when something amazing is going to happen?

Jesus didn't say wait here, do nothing, stay safe. Jesus told the disciples to go and be witnesses to all the known world, starting with their own city.

 What stories to what we tell? I have a couple of examples for you from the media over the past week:

 [Image one ]

the report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into allegations of child abuse and non-reporting child abuse in parts of the Hunter Valley was released this week. This commission has concluded that yes there was child sexual abuse, and yes there was a lack of timely reporting, and an unnamed person may yet stand trial.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-30/hunter-child-abuse-special-commission-of-inquiry-clears-police/5488942

What in this news story do we hear about Jesus?

[Image two and three, 4]

“Church leaders are among two groups of Christians holding simultaneous sit-in prayer vigils at the Sydney office of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the Melbourne office of Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.  ….

Among the sit-in participants are two Catholic priests, a nun, two Baptist pastors, an Anglican Priest, five Uniting Church ministers, and a number of lay church leaders. They are refusing to leave the offices until both major parties commit to releasing children from detention.” ….

The Moderator of the Uniting Church in NSW and ACT, Rev Dr Brian Brown is currently praying in Mr Abbott’s office, while former President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Dr Alistair Macrae is in the office of Mr Shorten. - See more at: http://www.biblesociety.org.au/news/church-leaders-stage-prayer-sit-offices-tony-abbott-bill-shorten#sthash.apdMrOIV.dpuf

 

What in this news story do we hear about Jesus?

We are a community that Jesus prays for and prays with, a community of faith called to witness to the local community and the entire world. What does our life as a community of faith, of Jesus people, say to our local community? and to the world?