“Clothed with Power” (Luke 24:44-53)

Luke 24:44-53

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Pastor Tom Johnson, May 8, 2016

Jesus calls us to mission. Our mission is to spread the message of repentance and forgiveness—life-transformation and releasing the world from the captivity and power of sin. This comes through the Word we preach and Baptism. The epicenter of this global initiative begins in Jerusalem. That is where Jesus taught the crowds. That is where he healed the sick. That is where he was crucified. That is where he rose again from the dead. Jesus takes his disciples a few miles away from Jerusalem into the mountains near Bethany. And it is there that he withdraws from them and ascends into heaven. His earthly ministry has not ended, however; it has begun anew through his Church.

And that is what makes Luke’s version of the Ascension unique. He is preparing us for part two of the story of Jesus—the book of Acts. Luke writes his Gospel about Jesus’ ministry from his birth to his ascension. Luke writes the book of Acts about Jesus’ ministry from his ascension to when his Church is spreading across the known world. We see Jesus’ command and vision fulfilled. Jesus will accomplish this though us, his Church. But will not be a smooth transition. The disciples are scared. And we should not blame them. Their leader Messiah had just been betrayed. He was unfairly tried. He was treated with cruelty. He suffered death by crucifixion. And they fear the same treatment.

This is what makes Jesus’ words so relevant. He knows that his disciples are not courageous or strong enough to do what he is sending them to do. Jesus presumes their inadequacy. “Stay here in the city,” he says, “until you have been clothed with power from on high.” And to say this means that they have not yet been clothed with power. They do not have the resources or tools they need to answer God’s call. What Jesus’ words tell us is that, in and of ourselves, we are not properly attired. No, I’m not talking about dressing in Sunday’s best…but how our first parents, Adam and Eve, fell into sin. At first they were naked and unashamed. After their fall, all humanity knows good and evil—outside and within ourselves.  Like them, we try to cover up our guilt and shame inadequately. They tried to do so with fig leaves. Like them, we come to the knowledge of good and evil in the world and in our own lives. Like them, we discover our inability to hide our faults and our powerlessness to do what God commands.

Jesus calls us to holiness of life and faith. He calls us to do what he commands—to love God with our whole being and to love one another as he has loved us. And he calls us proclaim the good news and to baptize worldwide beginning where we are. We are merely human. We are flesh and blood. We have failed to be who God wants us to be. We have failed to do what he commands to do. It doesn’t seem to follow then, that God would call for us to carry on his mission. At least it seems a little strange to me. Why not have Jesus keep on showing up in his resurrected Body? Wouldn’t it be more spectacular if God himself brought the message of forgiveness and eternal life to every individual on the face of the earth?

In the resurrection, Jesus is “clothed in a long robe with a golden sash around his chest.” “His voice is like the roar of many waters.” “His face is like the sun shining in full strength” (Rev 1:13-16). Jesus seems to be the best candidate for the job. If not himself, why not just send legions of angels? They also appear in dazzling and pure robes. They are God’s perfect, unfallen creatures. They are his messengers that bring good news to his broken world. Why them and not us? The prophet Isaiah describes our fallen human condition; he says all our supposed good works are like filthy rags. He says, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” In and of ourselves, we are inadequate.

That is why Christ’s promise is such good news: “Stay here in the city,” he says, “until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Jesus not only will open our minds to understand the Scriptures. He will dress us up for his service. In Christ, God clothes us to cover our guilt, shame, and inadequacy. He dresses us up in the power of the Holy Spirit. He not only calls us to mission. He equips us to fulfill his mission. In a few moments, we will baptize Isabelle and Theodore Betzig. And, as we always do with baptism. We give a candle to remind the baptized that they are the light of Christ. And we give cloth garment “…to show that you have been clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covers all you sin. So shall you stand without fear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

And, in the meantime, we go out into the world dressed for the mission. Like the comic book hero who draws her strength from her super suit—we go out dressed in the strength and righteousness of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are filled with peace and joy from our own forgiveness. Our minds are filled with the wonderful Scripture that has the power to transform the world. Our mouths are filled with the good news of forgiveness and eternal life. Jesus has clothed us in baptism. We have been washed by the Holy Spirit. We shine like the midday sun. We are equipped. We are dressed for the work of God.