Most people think they don’t have power unless they are rich or famous, but everyone has power. Each of us has a great deal of power to make the world a better or worse place.
Did you know that? Yes, you have the power of speech and deed. The way you choose to live your life in relation to those around you will make things better or not. The language you use and your actions can make or break the world.
For example, we can help children become good and kind people in society or traumatize them to become violent and evil. (We know what that looks like.)
The African proverb explains it, “It takes a village to raise a child,” which means an entire community of people must interact with children for those children to grow in a safe and healthy environment.
As disciples of Jesus, we have been given the power of Jesus to do good things and contribute to the wellness of others. And what kind of power is Jesus’ power? The power to give and sustain life.
Today’s scripture is about the last time the disciples saw Jesus before he ascended into heaven and the last words he said to them. The Scripture is Acts 1:1-8,
“In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 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. 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; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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.”
The book of Acts is a continuation of the gospel of Luke, so he wrote both. After telling us in the gospel what Jesus did and taught, his crucifixion and resurrection, and how he appeared to the disciples several times for forty days, reminding them of his teachings about the kingdom of God, now we are learning here what happened just before Jesus ascended into heaven: Jesus asked them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Holy Spirit that will give them the power to be witnesses.
What Jesus was telling them was that the mission to bring the kingdom of heaven to every people everywhere was just beginning. The coming of the Holy Spirit promised to empower them for this great mission, and the way to accomplish it was by being witnesses.
But what did that mean? While Jesus was among them, he spent his time calling, teaching, and giving an example to his followers about the kingdom of God and the character and power of such a kingdom. This was not a kingdom to destroy the enemy or oppress subordinates or break the people’s backs to accumulate power and wealth, but a kingdom to save the lost, protect the vulnerable, heal the sick, and feed the hungry—a kingdom to give and sustain life in abundance.
This was not an abstract concept but a tangible blessing. For example, the kingdom of God was revealed when Jesus stood between abusers and their victims; when he defended women and the poor; when he confronted the powerful and oppressors; when he embraced the children and encouraged them when others were neglecting them (I hope that is never us).
Can you see the picture here? Just as Jesus taught about love, compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation, and salvation from sin and death, he also embodied everything he said by using his power to give life to those that welcome it.
To be clear, Jesus’ power is not about money, political manipulation, taking advantage of others, or abusing the weak. His power was not about making Israel great again or build it back better (as the disciples were still misguidedly hoping for when they asked, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”). No, his power was and is for the sake of those he loves.
Now, the crazy thing is that Jesus wants to share his power with us too. He said he will give us power when he promised, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses [everywhere you go].”
What kind of power is this? The power we get from Jesus is the power to give and sustain life as he did. The Holy Spirit accomplishes this by reminding us of the teachings of Jesus and giving us faith and wisdom to act with goodwill towards all people. So, when Jesus tells us we are empowered to be witnesses, it means we are witnesses of goodness and grace, not of condemnation and punishment.
We need to ask now: Do I have that power within me? Can I be a witness? A witness is someone that tells what they know and have seen. The dictionary defines the word “witness” this way: “One who has seen or heard something” and “One who furnishes evidence.” Therefore, a witness is someone who can say, “I know this is true.”
What do we know, and how do we tell? What are we witnesses of? First, Jesus taught about loving God and our neighbor. He explained that love is practiced through compassion and mercy. Second, Jesus taught us about forgiveness and grace; he revealed that God wants us and that we don’t have to prove ourselves worthy to be welcomed into God’s presence. Third, Jesus taught us about praying not just for the people we care about but also for those against us; he showed us how to pray like that when we prayed while hanging from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.” Fourth, Jesus taught us about seeking reconciliation by asking for forgiveness when we sin and forgiving those who sin against us. Fifth, he urged us not to judge others and be hypocritical but to help each other live better lives. Finally, he told us that we could have eternal life through him if we put our trust and faith in him as our Lord and Savior.
This witnessing is one of our most extraordinary callings and accomplishments in life. When we are a witness and tell others what we know to be true about Jesus, we help make things better in the world. As witnesses of Jesus, we have the power to influence the behavior of others and change the world into a place where love, compassion, and forgiveness shape us as human beings. We have the power to stop what’s unjust and evil, what’s rude and corrupting. We have the power to bring kindness, compassion, love, hope, peace, and so much more to so many.
Do you want to make the world a better place for you, your family, and those around you? Then mind the circus. Let me explain. The saying goes, “Not my circus, not my monkeys,” which means that whatever is going on with “them” is not my business, so I am not responsible for whatever the issue or situation.
It is a good saying; I have used it sometimes. But when it comes to the challenges we face in the world and our local community—as we are seeing again this week with the horrible and evil tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas—everything we do affects other human beings. So, what happens in our communities is our business because we share the space in this big and messy circus of life where we all live. This is our circus and our monkeys. We are all under the same tent.
To finish, Acts 1:9 says, “When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” The last thing Jesus wanted us to know and remember was that we were given the power to be like him, do and say the things he did and said, and courageously and confidently tell others about him and invite them to follow him too.
With that in mind, here is the good news and invitation: You have been given the power to give life with your words and deeds. So, whatever intelligence, wisdom, kindness, love, and compassion you have, use all of it to be a good witness, contribute to the wellness of others, invite them to know Jesus, and receive his promise of life for today and eternity.
Whatever your profession or skill, you have one job, all of us do, to be a witness of Jesus.
Go and be.
