Witness

5-16-21Sermon Notes“Reconnect Through Witness”
Have you ever heard of “famous last words?” I’ve always thought it was interesting to see the actual last words of famous people. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci’s last words were, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.” (Yikes! The Mona Lisa wasn’t good enough?!) And Marie Antoinette’s last words, after accidentally stepping on the foot of her executioner on the way to the guillotine, were “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur.” (Those polite French folks…) Harriet Tubman, of Underground Railroad fame, had her family gather around her and her last words were as they all sang: “Swing low, sweet chariot.” How perfect is that?
What about John Wesley? Maybe you have heard this before, but John Wesley’s last words were, “The best of all is, God is with us.” I agree wholeheartedly! There is something about a person’s last words that lend them extra importance. That being said…do you remember Jesus’ last words? We can see them in Acts chapter 1 –
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1: 1-11 NRSV)
Jesus’ last words were about the promise of power to “be my witnesses” when the Holy Spirit comes…to take the good news from where they currently were (Jerusalem) all the way “to the ends of the earth.”
Join us Sunday as we talk about how we reconnect through our witness.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Sam