Not Easy News

 

Take a look at Luke 24:44-53:

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

As I read this passage, I was struck that at the end, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  Of course they did; they had just seen Jesus ascend into heaven.  Even so, though, my selfish self so so many reasons the disciples would not be happy as they listened to Jesus (first paragraph).

1. The Messiah is to suffer and die - this is their friend, their rabbi, their leader. He is going to suffer and die? It seems as if in this passage, they are remembering that he has told him this before, but still - it must bring with it grief and sadness.
2. Repentance and forgiveness will be proclaimed to all nations?  Did they want that? Did they hope for the grace of forgiveness to be offered to everyone? And before you say, "Of course they did," ask yourself if you always want everyone, everywhere to be forgiven? And repentance? Everyone? Even you and me?
3. You are witnesses to these things - Me? I have to go and tell people this? Ask everyone to repent? Offer forgiveness to all? Is anyone going to believe that the son of God came to earth, lived as a human, was killed, and then rose from the dead? The Messiah? Good news, yes, but unbelievable, right?
4. And then he ascended. He left again.

It's all good news. But it's not easy news.