Well, good morning everyone. Are we well? Excellent. Here we are, finishing Luke's Gospel this morning.
Cannot wait to see what God has to teach us if we finish this Gospel together.
So why don't you turn to Luke chapter 24 and those verses that Alice just read for us a moment ago.
And just before we get stuck in, why don't we just still our hearts and let's commit this time that we have studying God's precious Word to Him.
Why don't we pray?
Heavenly Father, we want to take time and still ourselves now and just take stock of the fact that there is simply none like you.
That you have no equal.
Father, that you are the unparalleled one.
And we ask this morning, Father, that you would help us by your Spirit grasp something more of your incomparable greatness.
Father, would you blow our minds this morning as we turn to your Word?
We pray through Jesus' precious name. Amen.
So to begin, I thought we'd play a little game called Guess the Flag.
In fact, there's only one flag, so it's not much of a game.
What's the flag?
India.
Put your hands up. Have you ever been to India?
India.
Wow, we're a well-traveled congregation. Excellent.
How did we get to India?
He says there's number one rule of public speaking.
You've got to be pretty confident what the answer is coming back.
So how did you get to India? Anybody?
In a plane.
Yeah? In a plane.
Let me tell you the story of a man who travelled to India from England in 1871 and he took the boat.
Okay?
This is what he writes in his diary.
The seasickness and the smell of the ship made me feel very miserable.
Added to that the prospect of leaving all the comforts and communion of the saints in England
to go forth to an unknown land to endure such illness and misery with ungodly men
for so many months weighed heavy on my spirits.
My heart was almost ready to break.
So those are the words of a man called Henry Martin.
Henry Martin brought up in a well-to-do family,
sent to one of the finest grammar schools that England has to offer.
However, so well does he do at school that at the age of 16,
he's offered a place at Cambridge to study maths.
And so well did he do at Cambridge while he studied maths
that he graduated top of his year with the highest honours.
So here's a guy in his early 20s and the world is at his feet.
He can do anything he wants.
The world is at his feet.
But while he was at university, Henry Martin became a Christian.
And he set his heart on being a missionary
because in his heart was a fire for the people of India.
So he sets about dedicating himself to the task of translating the New Testament
into Arabic, into Persian and into Hindustani,
the three major languages of the Muslim world of India that he was about to step into.
He embraces a life of no thrills, opposition, rejection, sickness, and at times loneliness.
Now you can imagine that is miles away from the life he has left behind in England.
Now here's the question I hope you're asking, I think you're asking at this point.
It's the question that's been on my mind ever since I read about this man, Henry Martin, this week.
Why would anyone do that?
Yeah?
What would possess a person to give it all up and travel to a foreign land
not knowing what's going to happen to him?
What possesses a person to do that?
Especially Henry Martin, he dies at the age of 31.
Presumably that's the question that Theophilus, remember the man that Luke is writing for,
he is asking himself as he looks out and he observes the early church in action.
So he looks out and he sees men and women who have been with Jesus
living radically different lives, giving themselves for the cause of telling others about Jesus
and very much counting the cost for doing so.
Why would anyone want to do that?
To be honest, I say it's the question that as I see some of you guys in action,
that I ask myself.
So as I see teens, as I hear about teens standing tall for Jesus at school,
of students saying no to temptation and yes to sexual purity,
speaking for Jesus at great cost to their reputation and popularity,
of workers giving up some of their income,
giving up some of that precious free time to come and serve the church,
of people approaching retirement age and while the rest of the watching world thinks
holiday home south of France, kick it back, it's my time,
you think, how can I best serve God with this spare time that I have
in this new season of my life?
Why would anybody want to do that?
Well, these verses in Luke give us the answer.
People do it because they have bought into God's mission.
They bought into God's mission.
The three words at verse 47,
to all nations.
To all nations.
That God through his people is intent on getting the whole gospel to the whole world.
The people in our country, the people in our city,
the people on our streets,
the people in our stairwells,
the people in our families,
the people in our workplaces,
the people in our social circles.
God's heart, his desire,
is that they would repent of their sin through Jesus come to know him.
That's his heart.
So here's the question I want to ask us as a church this morning,
all of us here together as one body.
It's have we synced ourselves with God's mission?
Are we synced?
It's a question this morning that we want to think about as we travel through these verses.
Perhaps you're sitting there and you're thinking to yourself,
why should I sync myself with God's mission?
Why should I do that?
Why should I give up things,
die to myself and live for Jesus?
Why should I do that?
Well, as we zoom in on these first disciples,
and as Luke shows us in these verses,
the truths,
the convictions that have captured their hearts,
let's let Luke give us three reasons
why we should buy into God's mission.
Three reasons.
Are you ready for these?
Something, anything.
Give me something.
Yeah?
Ready for these?
Here's reason number one,
verses 36 to 43 if you've got it there.
The son is living.
We pick it up at verse 36.
Disciples, what are they doing?
They're talking.
Talking.
What are they talking about?
The news of verse 34.
That it's true.
Jesus is risen.
And all of a sudden,
in an instant,
Jesus is standing with them.
How do they feel?
Look at some of the adjectives
that Luke uses here.
How are they using?
How are they feeling?
Frightened.
How are they feeling?
Startled.
What do they think they've seen?
A ghost, a spirit.
This is what they think they've seen.
Are they hallucinating?
Has the hysteria of the moment,
has it taken over their senses?
But they've no need to panic.
Jesus speaks.
And here's what Luke wants us to see
about Jesus.
That he is no ghost.
They have not clasped eyes on Casper.
This is no spirit that they're seeing.
This is the physically risen Jesus.
And I love here how Luke,
remember the good doctor?
He slips into doctor mode.
Follow with me.
Look how he appeals to the senses here.
As he shows us how Jesus spoke to the disciples.
To the sight.
Look at the words.
Look.
See.
He showed them.
They watched him eat.
To the hearing.
He said.
They clearly heard.
To the touch.
Touch my hands and my feet.
They gave him.
To the smell.
Broiled fish.
Now that sounds like something Gollum out of Lord of the Rings would eat,
doesn't it?
But,
it is actually cooked and seasoned fish.
Sight.
Hearing.
Touch.
Smell.
The senses confirm
what they thought was true.
Now what is it we always say
when something seems too good to be true?
What's that phrase?
Pinch me.
Because we want our senses
to tell us
that what we think is happening
is really happening.
It pains me to say
if you're a Liverpool or Manchester United fan
you've probably uttered those words this week.
And if you're a Manchester City fan
you've probably uttered them as well
but for very different reasons.
Pinch me.
Am I making this up?
Is it really happening?
That's what Luke is doing here.
The disciples weren't dreaming.
This is no old wife's tale.
This is no Chinese whisper
that's gone out of hand.
Jesus is physically risen.
And that really matters.
I remember a friend once asking me
is there anything
that would cause you
to stop being a Christian?
That's a great question.
Think about it for a minute.
Is there anything that would happen
that would stop you being a Christian?
Because
if it was decisively proven to me
that Jesus hadn't risen from the dead
if somebody could positively
identify his bones
in a grave in the Middle East somewhere
friends
I would call this a day.
I would call it a day.
Because Paul would say doesn't he
if he is not risen
then we are to be pitied
amongst
higher than all men.
Because if Jesus said
he would physically rise
from the dead
and he didn't
then he's not even worth
following on Twitter
let alone with my life.
Some of you may remember
the Watergate scandal
that happened in America
during the 1970s
when Richard Nixon was president.
Well one of the men
at the heart of it
was called
Charles Coulson.
He was a member
of the president's cabinet.
And amazingly
it's amazing how God works
isn't it?
That in the midst of this scandal
Charles Coulson became a Christian.
And here's why he became a Christian.
He said this
I know the resurrection
to be a fact
and Watergate proved it to me
because twelve men testified
that they had seen Jesus
raised from the dead
and they proclaimed that message
for forty years.
Never once did they deny it.
Everyone was beaten
tortured
stoned
and put in prison
they would not have endured
that if it were not true.
Watergate embroiled
twelve of the most powerful men
in the world
and they couldn't keep alive
for three weeks.
You're telling me
twelve apostles
could keep alive
for forty years?
Absolutely
impossible.
Now what is Charles Coulson
saying there?
He's saying that you would not die
for a lie.
Friends
the Christian faith
is not built
on a foundation
of feelings.
The Christian faith
is built
on a foundation
of facts.
That Jesus
is risen.
That he
physically
rose
from the grave.
The son
is living.
Now maybe you're here
and you wouldn't
call yourself
a Christian.
I just say
love that you're here.
But let me challenge you
as you hear
God's appeal
through his word
this morning
is it time
that you've faced up
to the facts?
Because in
typical doctor style
as Luke presents this
to us
the resurrection
is good news
and it's bad news.
It's good news
because for those
who trust in Jesus
just as death
wasn't the end
for him
death won't be
the end for us.
It's glorious news.
But here's the bad news.
Jesus will return
to judge the world.
God has installed him
and exalted him
as heaven's king
and he will judge it
according to how
people of the world
have responded
to him.
So let me ask you
how do you respond
to the facts
of the
risen Jesus
this morning?
Incredible to see
as well
that Jesus
doesn't just
want them
to know the fact
he wants them
to know
what the fact
means.
Now look there
what is the first
word that he
says to the
disciples?
Peace.
To a Jew
it's this idea
of shalom
wholeness
harmony
in other words
things are back
to the way
that they were
meant to be.
Is it not
interesting
that's the
first word
that Jesus
wants to
bring to
his disciples
peace?
The sin
barrier
that separated
them from
God
Jesus
smashed it.
The wrath
of God
that was on
them
because of
their sin
Jesus
dealt with
it.
The sting
of death
that was
ahead of
them
Jesus
conquered
it.
Jesus
has made
a way
for peace
to be
true for
the disciples
for things
to go
back
to the
way
that
they
were
always
meant
to be
with
us
living
in
relationship
with
the
God
who
made
us.
Do you
know that
peace?
the
son
is
living
says
Luke.
Have
we
synced
our
lives
friends
with
God's
mission?
Reason
number
two
verses
44
to
49
the
son
is
living
second
reason
the
spirit
is
helping
verse
44
Jesus
takes
his
disciples
on
the
shortest
but
the
most
mind
blowing
Bible
study
ever.
Two
aspects
to this
Bible
study
firstly
he
takes
them
back.
What
does
he
say?
This
is
what
I
told
you
would
happen.
And
you
can
give
him
that
because
we've
seen
it
repeatedly
through
this
gospel
that
Jesus
has
said
time
and
time
again
that
this
would
happen
that
he
would
be
handed
over
that
he
would
die
that
he
would
rise.
But
you
see
what's
happened
over the
past
few
days
is
much
bigger
than
that.
The
roots
of
this
plan
don't
just
extend
to
the
last
three
years
actually
the
plot
line
of
God's
redemptive
story
is a
plan
that
was
conceived
in
eternity
past.
The
plan
God's
plan
and
this
is
awesome
that
all
nations
on the
earth
would
be
blessed.
And
how
would
God
accomplish
that?
Well
see
Jesus
say
that
everything
in
the
Old
Testament
the
law
of
Moses
the
prophets
the
Psalms
they
were
all
speaking
about
who?
Him.
They
were
all
speaking
about
and
pointing
to
Christ.
Now
our
little
girl
Chloe's
favourite
film
in the
moment
is
Paddington
2.
Anyone
seen
Paddington
2?
No?
A few
hands.
Gordon
has seen
it.
Gordon
has seen
it.
A few
hands
here.
Now
I'm
just
glad
that
Frozen
seems
to
have
been
frozen
for
the
time
being
but
she's
really
into
Paddington
2.
watched
it so
many
times.
Now
it's
a
kid's
film
so
the
plot
line
is
not
massively
complicated
but
it's
one
of
those
ones
that
the
first
time
you
watch
it
and
you
see
how
it
ends
you're
left
thinking
to
yourself
oh
that's
why
and
that's
how
the
bad
guy
managed
to
do
it.
Every
time
I've
subsequently
rewatched
it
with
her
because
I
know
the
ending
part
of
the
that's
why
that
connection
mattered
that's
why
that
line
mattered
that's
why
that
friend
speaking
to
that
friend
mattered
even
more
the
third
time
even
more
the
fourth
time
and
believe
you
me
even
more
the
tenth
time
that
happened
it's
like that
with
the
Bible
because
I
know
how
it
ends
as
it
were
because
I
know
God's
good
promises
find
their
fulfillment
in
Jesus
see
when I
go
back
and
read
my
Old
Testament
I
see
the
clues
that
were
there
all
along
that's
why
that
mattered
I
get
it
now
that
Jesus
is
the
promised
serpent
crusher
of
Genesis
3
I
get it
I'd
never
seen
it
before
I
see
now
that
Jesus
is
the
suffering
servant
that
Isaiah
was
speaking
about
in
Isaiah
53
that's
right
Jesus
is
God's
exalted
and
installed
king
that
David
speaks
about
in
Psalm
2
I'd
never
seen
that
before
we've
got a
children's
bible
by
Sally
Lloyd
Jones
called
the
Jesus
storybook
bible
that we
read
sometimes
with the
girls
the
strap
line
that's
on
that
front
cover
every
story
whispers
his
name
every
story
whispers
his
name
it's
exactly
what
Jesus
is
saying
and
he
opens
their
minds
to
understand
it
they
get
it
they
see
it
they
love
it
that
Jesus
was
no
random
carpenter
who
kicked
up
in the
Middle
East
and did
some
neat
tricks
taught
some
moral
lessons
he
is
God's
Messiah
he
is
God's
son
he
is
the
one
in
whom
God's
plan
to
unite
all
things
in
heaven
and
earth
centres
Jesus
takes
them
back
it
was
all
pointed
to
me
it
was
all
pointed
to
this
moment
and
Jesus
takes
them
forward
and
gives
them
a big
vision
for a
big
mission
that
God
beginning
with
them
as
they
witness
to
the
risen
Jesus
is
going
to
declare
his
glory
to
all
the
nations
now
remember
that
there's
only
something
like
120
of
them
at
this
point
probably
something
like
the
size
of
this
room
here
this
morning
and
they
have
got
to
go
to
the
world
120
of
them
have
got
to
go
to
the
nations
talk
about
feeling
out
your
depth
talk
about
feeling
outnumbered
and
talk
about
feeling
unqualified
fishermen
tax
collectors
I
mean
case
in
point
Peter
he's
just
denied
Jesus
three
times
if I
were to
pick my
dream team
of
disciples
to go
on this
mission
he would
not even
make
the
bench
but
Jesus
says
this
gospel
the news
about me
that I
am
risen
what the
father
has
done
is
going
to
all
nations
starting
with you
as you
witness
for me
through
these
ordinary
people
God
is going
to
accomplish
extraordinary
things
and I'll
be honest
and say
that massively
comforts
me
because
there
are
very rarely
moments
that go
by that I
do not
feel
ordinary
and God
is going
to accomplish
extraordinary
things
I feel
very
ordinary
I feel
very
unqualified
but God
uses
unqualified
unspectacular
people
to accomplish
extraordinary
things
but how
does he
do that
verse 49
because he
will provide
the power
God will
give his
people
his
promised
spirit
who will
empower
them for
this mission
of making
Jesus
known
throughout
the whole
world
and it's
incredible
because it's
with the
spirit's
power
that as
we turn
to Luke
sequel
as we
turn to
the book
of Acts
we see
Peter
filled with
the spirit
and he's
a different
man
he is a
different
man
whereas before
he didn't
want anyone
to know
that he was
associated
with Jesus
now he
wants the
world to
know
whereas before
he was
scared of a
little
servant
girl
now he's
standing in
front of
councils
tons of
people
and he's
telling them
about Jesus
there is no
explanation for
that
other than
the spirit
remember when
I was young
and people
had this song
search for the
hero inside
themselves
Peter has
not done
that
because there
was no
hero inside
Peter
and there's
no hero
inside me
there is no
explanation for
this other
than God's
spirit
God's spirit
the third
person of the
Godhead sent
to live in
the hearts
of every
single one
of God's
people
with the
job
of helping
us glorify
Jesus
putting him
in the
spotlight
and living
lives that
display and
proclaim his
greatness to
the watching
world
as through
his spirit
God transforms
his people
God equips
his people
God empowers
his people
to carry out
his mission
of making
his name
known to
the nations
God
you know
Alex and
I went
out for
dinner
last night
and just
before we
were ready
to go
we had
our coach
the waitress
turns around
to us
and says
that classic
line
any other
plans for the
weekend
and I'm
thinking to
myself
in the back
of my head
it's 10
o'clock
and it's
late
it's 10
o'clock
we've got a
babysitter at
home we
need to get
back for
maybe I
could just
dodge this
one
but then I
remembered what
I've been
studying all
week
that God
has given
me his
spirit
to carry
out his
mission
and the
truth is
that this
girl needs
to know
I didn't
get out a
chart
I didn't
get the
iPhone out
and show her
two ways to
live
I didn't do
anything like
that I just
probably said
something like
we'll be at
church tomorrow
I can't wait
but it was
this truth
that made a
difference to
me
that the
spirit is
helping
the spirit
is living
inside of
me
and it's
for
proclamation
friends have
we synced
our lives
with God's
mission
the son
is living
the spirit
is helping
finally reason
number three
verses 50
to 53
the father
is moving
verse 50
Jesus leads
them out to
the vicinity
of Bethany
while he was
blessing them
he leaves
them he
ascends into
heaven where
he takes
his place
in God's
throne room
as heaven's
victorious
king
he is
ascended
he is
risen
he is
reigning
he is
ruling
and notice
the two
reactions
of the
disciples
they return
to Jerusalem
just as
Jesus told
them to
do you see
even at this
early stage
the infancy
stage here
these followers
of Jesus
are marked
by a
radical
obedience
to his
words
and they
are also
marked by a
radical
worship of
his name
do you see
how Luke
gives us
those three
parallel words
that capture
the mood
of the hearts
and minds
of the
disciples
they worshipped
with great
joy
continually
praising
God
they worshipped
with great
joy
continually
praising
God
this is a
transformed
people
I love
it as you
turn to
Acts chapter
4
what the
rulers
the elders
and the
scribes
as they
look at
Peter and
John
in action
as they
watch them
witness for
Jesus
what is it
they say
about them
that they
were uneducated
common men
they were
country bumpkins
as far as the
religious leaders
were concerned
but what else
did they say
what else
did they
notice
that these
men had
been with
Jesus
so there
was something
of the
Jesus
aroma
that was
carried by
the
disciples
as they
went
they had
been with
Jesus
it's funny
there was a
survey carried
out in
2012 by
Marie Curie
Cancer Care
and they
asked living
celebrities
what it is
that they
would like
written
about them
on their
gravestone
here's my
favourite
Louis Theroux
he said
so now
do you
finally believe
that I've
got man
flu
like that
but here's
my question
for you
what is it
that you
would like
written about
you in
your
gravestone
I was
thinking on
it this
week
what would
people say
about me
minister
husband
father
Airdrie
fan
some of
them more
important than
others but
probably something
like that
but here's the
thing I really
hope people
write at the
end of my
life when
it's all
said and
done
Graham
Shanks
we saw
that he
had been
with
Jesus
we saw
that he
had been
with
Jesus
it's what
they say
of the early
disciples
is it
not
these
disciples
who were
marked by
radical
obedience
and who
were marked
by radical
worship
it was
Winston
Churchill
who famously
said
now this
is not
the end
it is not
even the
beginning
of the
end
but it
is perhaps
the end
of the
beginning
I think
that captures
well the
mood
at the end
of Luke's
gospel
do you notice
incidentally that
we're back at
the temple
where we
started at
chapter 1
and you have
to say that
there's such
a sense of
anticipation as
we finish this
gospel there's
such a sense of
expectation at
verse 53
that God
is moving
that God
is fulfilling
his desire
to see the
nations come
to worship
him
this is God's
plan
the anticipation
do you feel it
that this is
going forward
this is what's
going to happen
these 120
people taking
on the world
and it is
his mission
he is the
one who
raised Jesus
from the dead
he is the
one who sent
his spirit
to live inside
the hearts
of his people
he is the
one who is
longing for
his name
to be glorified
the world
over as God
transforms men
and women
from being his
enemies into
being his
worshippers
this is God's
mission
and let's be
quite honest
he does not
need me for
that
he does not
need you
for that
but is it
not mind
blowing
that God
in his
grace
as he
transforms us
more into
the image
of Christ
that he
would use
us
to glorify
his name
throughout
the world
somebody once
asked Henry
Martin
why he did
what he did
why would
anything do
something like
that
why would
somebody leave
behind the
comforts of
England
those green
green pastures
and why would
they sail for
India for a
life of hardship
here's what he
said
the spirit
of Christ
is the
spirit of
missions
the nearer
we get to
him
the more
intensely
missionary
we become
I see no
business in
life but
the work
of Christ
the missionary
heart of
Henry Martin
and ask
those at the
beginning
of those who
had been to
India to
raise their
hands
let's slightly
change the
angle
as we
finish
put your
hands up
if you're
from
Europe
a few
of us
here this
morning
put your
hands up
if you're
from
Africa
you look
around here
we're in
church
it's okay
put your
hands up
if you're
from
North
America
okay
put your
hands up
if you're
from
South
America
I didn't
see any
polar bears
coming in
this morning
so I
was going
to go
Antarctica
as well
but I
think
not
put your
hands up
lastly
if you're
from
Asia
you see
it
what God
is doing
everything
so we
didn't do
we did
not do
Australasia
anybody here
from Australia
New Zealand
anywhere like
that
okay we
didn't quite
get the
full suite
but you
see what
God is
doing
do you
see what
God
has done
this tiny
little
microcosm
of people
in Edinburgh
who have
gathered here
this morning
here we are
representing
the world
do you
see how
God
is committed
to his
plan
of the
whole
gospel
going to
the whole
world
do you
see how
God
is committed
to his
plan
of blessing
the nations
through his
people
how incredible
is that
that what
started here
with 120
people
in a city
in the Middle
East and here
is God
today
moving the
world over
through his
gospel
as he gathers
worshippers
around the globe
for himself
this is not
incredible
this is where
we are
as we
end Luke's
gospel
and this
is what
we see
as we
come to
the words
of Revelation
chapter 7
John
sees this
great vision
of a great
multitude
of worshippers
that through
Jesus God
has won
for himself
and here's
what he
sees
after this
I looked
and there
before me
was a
great
multitude
that nobody
could count
from every
nation
every tribe
every people
and language
standing before
the throne
and before
the Lamb
they were
wearing white
robes
and were
holding palm
branches in
their hands
and they
cried out
in a loud
voice
salvation
belongs
to our
God
who sits
on the
throne
and to
the Lamb
here is
God's
mission
convictions
behind it
the Son
is living
the Spirit
is helping
and the
Father
is moving
friends
as we
close
right here
let me ask
us as a
church
have we
synced
ourselves
have we
bought into
God's
mission
let's pray
together
and maybe
just in the
silence now
before we
close with
our final
hymn
now is the
time to
maybe
recommit
yourself
to God's
mission
Father in
heaven
hallowed be
your name
thank you
for the
time that
we've been
able to
spend in
Luke's
gospel
over this
last while
just reading
for ourselves
about the
incomparable
greatness of
your son
Jesus
would you
help us
this morning
knowing that
you have not
left us on
our own to
figure this
out that
you've given
us your
spirit
would you
help us
this morning
to sink
our lives
with your
mission
and with
your cause
the cause
that you
have of
winning
men and
women
boys and
girls around
this planet
around this
globe to
yourself
creating
this people
who worship
you forever
father you
are great
and we pray
that you'll be
with us this
week because
we ask in
Jesus's precious
name
amen