WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

By Dr. Eric C. Stumpf, Senior Pastor

St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church – Munster, IN

Acts 1:1-11 + Ascension (C) + 17 May 2007

             There is a children’s book entitled Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.   Its about little Alexander who goes to be bed with gum in his mouth.  The next morning he wakes up with gum in his hair.  He trips on his skateboard getting out of bed, drops his sweater in the sink with the water running.  At school his best friend deserts him, his teacher fails to appreciate him, and his mother forgot to put dessert in his lunch.  After school the whole family goes to the dentist and only one has a cavity – guess who?  When he get home, Alexander has to eat lima beans for supper – yuck! – and then he has to put up with kissing on TV – double yuck!  Even bedtime is bad for Alexander:  his bath is too hot, he gets soap in his eyes, his favorite marble goes down the drain, and he has to wear his stupid-looking train pajamas to bed.  To top it all off, his night light burns out, he bites his tongue getting into bed, and to add insult to injury, his cat refuses to sleep with him.  Can you blame the cat?  (CPR 8:2:64)

             Have you ever had a day like that?  Sometimes we think everything is going wrong in the world, in our homes, in our church, in our nation, and in our life.  Sometimes you think things are just spinning out of control – and that is why Ascension Day is so important.  Ascension Day reminds us that things are not in chaos.  Jesus rose from the dead, defeated Satan and his minions, he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the Father.  Christ is with his people, the Holy Spirit opens the mind of people to hear the Word and receive it, and the Father’s will will be done.

 Acts 

            The Acts of the Apostles begins like the Gospel According to St. Luke, it is addressed to Theophilus.  The writer summaries the Gospel of Luke – what Jesus began to do and to teach….  The writer wants us to know that Jesus continues to do through his personal intervention, e.g., stopping Paul on the Road to Damascus and calling him to be his great missionary.  Jesus continues to teach, the Holy Spirit opens the mind of people to know and follow Jesus by hearing the Word. 

            After Jesus’ death and resurrection He showed himself many times to the disciples.  This was necessary.  People generally don’t expect to see deceased people walking around.  They, like many others, would think they were seeing a phantom, and apparition, a ghost, or figment of an over active imagination.  Jesus showed himself in Jerusalem, and on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and on the road to Emmaus.  He was with them on Sunday and other days.  He came in evening, and walked with them during the day, and greeted them in the morning.  He ate with them and had Thomas touch his wounds.  He wanted them to know that he was alive bodily, not the illusion of a passionate mind.  They would be his witnesses to his resurrection and victory over death.  But even then they still needed the Holy Spirit to open their minds and hearts.

             Jesus gave them their mission.  First, the Holy Spirit will empower you to do the work of being a witness.  Second, witness what you have heard and seen to all the ends of the earth.  Third, Jesus will be with you to the end of the ages and he will return.

What Does This Mean?

            An American school group went on a tour to a museum.  The teacher spent a week before the tour instructing the class on the importance of staying together and not getting lost.  In order to help them he told them that from the time they got off the bus until the time they got back on the bus they were to follow him.  I will hold up a small American flag high above my head as we go through the museum.  Keep your eye on that flag and you won’t get lost.  When the class returned from their field trip, the teacher asked the class what was the one thing they remembered most about the trip.  “The American flag!” they said together. (CPR 10:2:62 inspired)

             As Lutherans the phrase “What does this mean?” has special significance.  All of you who are veterans of confirmation studies probably remember that phrase from the catechism.  We learned that Martin Luther wanted us to be sure we understood what the main doctrines of the church meant and what it means in our lives.  Likewise Ascension Day has special meaning for us in our journey of faith. 

             First, we remember the promise of Jesus to his disciples and to us as well.  It was as if we too were standing with the disciples near Bethany and heard those promises to us.  The Holy Spirit will empower you to do the mission.  My first job as a teenager, outside of taking out the garbage and pulling weeds in the garden, was as a caddy at Medinah Country Club.  It was the only job one could get.  When I went there with a friend, the Caddy Master took a look at me and figured I could carry a bag of clubs.  So I was send across the street to get my first job.  It was a disaster.  The first thing I did was pick up the bag incorrectly and all the clubs spilled out.  When the golfer asked for the five iron I had no idea what he was talking about.  When I was told to pick up the pin, I walked on the green stepping on the lie of the putters looking for a little pin.  I was sent down to the Caddy Master.  He thought my friend had taught me.  He hadn’t.  It made all the difference in the world to be instructed by the Caddy Master.  We have a great teacher in the Holy Spirit who instructs us through the Holy Word.  We have good news to share, we have hope to give to others.

             Second, like the disciples we have an opportunity to witness to what the Lord has done in our life.  We have all gone through tough days like Alexander in our introduction, we have all felt apart from God; but, Jesus promise is golden.  He will be with us always.  You hear his voice in the Word.  You heard your sins are forgiven in his name.  You will be receiving his body and blood for your salvation in a few minutes.  What great things we have in Jesus and what wonderful gifts we have to share with others.  Amen.

SDG