St Andrews’ Shilton 6th
Sunday after Easter
Acts 17: 22-31 & John 14:
15-21
On 8 September 2022, King
Charles III became the UK's monarch upon the death of Queen Elizabeth 11. The
coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as king and queen of the
United Kingdom took place eight months later Saturday, 6 May 2023,
Next Thursday, May 14th
is Ascension Day. Somewhat regrettably this Feast often suffers neglect and a
misunderstanding of its importance.
Partly I think that is
because we have taken and embraced a triple decker world view, heaven above,
earth in the middle and hell below.
Jesus, having lived on earth,
died, spent a very brief time in hell, before rising and then ascending into
heaven. Very often spatially located
somewhere up above the sky and the clouds.
Ascension is often thought of
as Jesus going up into the sky and often portrayed this way in art and
sculpture.
But people have been in that
space and there is no sign of what we might call heaven.
However, if we take the
concept of Charles 111 ascending the throne and being crowned we might be
getting closer to a better understanding and the importance of this event.
The predominant ruling power
at the time of Jesus’ earthy ministry was Rome. And it was Rome’s
representative that had Jesus crucified and placed above his head, ‘The King of
the Jews.’
The Ascension is Jesus coming
in the clouds of glory, as spoken of in Daniel 7:13-14, to take his place and
sit down at the right hand of God and receive all power and authority both in
the earthly realm (our reality) and the heavenly realm. (God’s reality)
“Again, the high priest
questioned Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said
Jesus, “and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and
coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 14.62
Jesus’ death, resurrection
and ascension are all part of a royal proclamation that Jesus is Lord of heaven
and earth, and the dawn of a new creation has begun.
Now it may not feel or even
look like Jesus is Lord and that a new creation has begun. That is because it
is both now and not yet. In technical terms that is called inaugural
eschatology.
The people of Athen’s didn’t
consider that a new creation had dawned and that Jesus was Lord of Heaven and
earth. For them there was a whole panoply of gods, and just in case, they had
an altar to an unknow god, to hedge their bets as you might say. Walking around
the city Paul notices this amongst all the many other temples and shrines.
And listen to what Paul
declares to them in verses 24 of our Acts reading..
“The
God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and
earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.”
Remember the occasion when
Jesus’ disciples were waxing lyrical about the marvel of the temple in
Jerusalem, such big stones, they said. However, Jesus warned them that a time was
coming when there wouldn’t be one stone left upon another.
Jesus then went on to say, ‘destroy
this temple and in three days I will raise it up again.’ It was only later
that they realised this referenced Jesus personified the Temple in Jerusalem,
the heaven and earth space.
When the first temple was built, under Solomon, during the dedication of that temple the Shekinah glory of God descended and filled the temple.
In our Gospel reading we hear
of Jesus promising that if we abide in him, then we too will receive that very
same Spirit.
That we will not be abandoned
as orphans, that through the Spirit we will know God and know him as Lord of
heaven and earth, the creator and sustainer of all things.
Know that despite all the
crazy things going on in the world right now, or indeed all the crazy things in
the world that have happened throughout history, that it is all leading to a new
heaven and earth reality. A heaven and earth reality that has already broken
into the world in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
A heaven and earth reality
now manifest in God’s people, the Church, you and me. We are signposts pointing
towards the reality of this new creation.
We are those who out of our
love for God obey all the commands which Jesus summarised as loving God and
loving your neighbour as yourself.
But how, you might ask, do I remain
as a faithful signpost in a sea of trouble, a light in the darkness.
Remember the story of Jesus
walking on the water whilst a storm raged. Remember the story of how Peter,
wonderful impetuous Peter, takes that step of faith and steps out of the boat.
And it is only when he takes his eyes of Jesus and looks at the storm that his
faith falters and he begins to sink.
But notice, but notice, but
notice - when he stepped out in faith the storm kept howling around his head,
the storm didn’t stop.
And yes, we are facing some
fearsome storms right now, and you might also be facing some of your own storms
as well, personal storms raging in your life.
Anchoring our hearts and
minds in the Scriptures in one good way of remaining steadfast in the storms
that assail us.
Like these wonderful words
from Hebrews 12.1-2, words that are very dear to me as someone who
loves running.
‘Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on
Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him
he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God.’
Take especial note of the
call to fix our eyes on Jesus – that was when Peter’s faith failed him and he
began to sink.
One of the ways to help
someone having a panic attack is to ask them to focus on you - “look at me,
look at me, now breathe, in and out, in and out.”
Jesus says to us in our pain,
hurt and confusion - "look at me, look at me, now breathe."
Let me ask this question, do
you find yourself focussing on the storm, catastrophising, or are your eyes
fixed upon Jesus?
From our Gospel this morning
and verse 16 & 17;
Jesus said…
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to
help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world
cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know
him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
The
world that lives in disobedience to God and certainly does not keep any of
God’s commands, but lives to its own power and authority, will not be able to
accept God because it means relinquishing their own power and grand ideas about
how the world should be run and operated.
As
God’s people, who are abiding in God and keeping our eyes firmly fixed upon
Jesus, we will know the Spirit of truth, we will know God’s presence and not be
left or abandoned as orphans.
We
can be as a light in the darkness and hope in the despair, signpost to God’s
new creation, carriers of God’s Kingdom come upon earth, filled with very
presence of God through the promised Holy Spirit.
Let
us pray;
O Saviour Christ, in whose way of love lays the secret of all life, and the hope of all people, we pray for quiet courage to match this hour. We did not choose to be born or live in such an age; but let its problems challenge us, its discoveries exhilarate us, its injustices anger us, its possibilities inspire us, and its vigour renew us. Pour out upon us a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit; make us bold and courageous in sharing faith in both word and deed for your Kingdom’s sake we ask.
https://youtu.be/E_nLERH27dM?si=WBcIPGffCI4YRPiL
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