Here’s a question for you. What do you have in common with?
· James Cameron
· Jonah
· Jesus Christ
On 26th March 2012, James Cameron embarked on a real life 11km, 7 hour journey down the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean located between Japan and Papua New Guinea. He was the first person ever to go down so deep solo and only the 3rd person in history, the previous time was1960. The Mariana Trench is lower than Mt Everest is high and is in the depth of the ocean called the Hadal Zone. Hadal is named after Hades, the place of the dead and is the zone more than 10,000 km down. The temperature there is close to freezing, there is intense pressure and it is total darkness. What life exists there is thought to survive on “Marine Snow”, organic matter made up of dead sea life, plants and other decomposed organisms that fall to the bottom of the ocean. James Cameron’s words when he returned were “Back from the deepest place on the earth #oceans hadal zone. Puts a new spin on ‘to Hell and Back’.Good to see the sunshine”. When later interviewed about his experience he said "My feeling was one of complete isolation from all of humanity. I felt as though literally in the space of one day, I've gone to another planet and come back. The whole sub actually squeezes down almost three inches in length just because of the pressure. The sphere that I'm in actually shrinks. The window that I look out actually pushes in towards me under 16,000 pounds per square inch of pressure." He plans to make a 3D movie using footage from the trip, which will give us an idea of his experience.
His experience reminded me of the story of Jonah who also ended up at the bottom of the ocean, lower than any man had been before. Now I don’t know about you but I think there is no more scary experience than to feel isolated from God and from humanity, to feel that your life is hanging by a thread. If you’re ever in that state you might like to remember Jonah’s prayer.
With this prayer of Jonah you can feel the emotion of someone who feels alone, separated from man, separated from God. Perhaps this is why Jesus recalled what happened to Jonah in describing his own death and resurrection. Imagine the emotions Jesus went through in the weeks leading up to his crucifixion. Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen but everyone else failed to understand what was taking place. We can have an idea of how he was feeling from the things Jesus said in those last weeks which were about darkness, death and judgement. He talked about the Sheep and the Goats, condemned the merchants in the temple, condemned the religious leaders, spoke of the end of the age and the last judgement, he faced the betrayal and denial by his closest friends. Jesus was no doubt feeling the pending wrath of God and was speaking from a very emotional state of mind.
With extreme emotions comes trembling, tears, weakness. These are what Jesus had as he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, feeling abandoned by his friends. Jesus went to the Cross and even felt abandoned by God. It is almost overwhelming to think of what Jesus went through on behalf of you, me and all of mankind. Taking our punishment, going through the pain we all would have faced.
But that is not the end of the story and that is why we’re here today! The Gospels tell us that Jesus came back to life again. From the lowest point in the earth, from Hades itself, Jesus was raised up back to life. How can you describe the emotions the women and the disciples felt when they saw Jesus alive again. Suddenly from darkness and defeat to victory and peace. The dark storm is over, the war is won. What wonder, joy and peace they must have felt. What a contrast between Friday and Sunday.
It is like that for us too. Once we become a Christian, what a difference a day can make! Back from the Dead, back to Life! As I’ve prepared for today, for the first time I have noticed that there is only a short space of time between the ending of the Gospels and the Book of Acts. The story hasn’t ended once Jesus went back to Heaven. His story continues on in Acts and even to this day with you and me. So I want to encourage you and continue on with the story by reading what Luke is telling us in Acts 1 and 2.
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus was with the disciples for 40 days after his resurrection. Read John 20-21 and you’ll get the feeling of what it was like for them to have Jesus back with them from the dead. It’s a beautiful description of the wonder, peace and joy they felt at having Jesus back, their relationship restored and the knowledge that they were completely safe with him, could never be lost from his hand. Naturally they had a lot of questions.What would you ask someone who’s come back from the dead? The disciples wanted to know about the future! In verses Acts 1:6-7 we read.
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
They were carrying on with the same line of questioning they had before. The disciples wanted to know when Israel would be freed to be independent, when were the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 24 going to come true?Jesus replied that was not the future they needed to be concerned about because the Father sets those dates. Do you have a promise from God? If you do it will come true but not necessarily in the time-frame you have in mind! God the Father sets those dates, he makes the appointments, knows when your loved ones will be saved, when they will be healed. We should be happy when we receive a promise from God because you know it will come true!
Jesus only wanted them to be concerned about the here and now. That he was going back to Heaven and that the Holy Spirit was coming in just a few days. Sometimes God has to bring our attention back to the here and now! Acts 1:8-11
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Jesus said it was better for him to go back to Heaven because then the Holy Spirit would come. That is quite hard for us because we prefer a physical body we can touch. We would rather have Jesus here with us so we can see him, talk to him, hear him and touch him as with any other human being. As my wife said to me this week, sometimes she’d just like to sit down and have a cup of coffee with him so she could talk things over. Actually he promised he is here with us, and in fact we can do all of those things just not in the way we’re used to. We can hear his voice if we shut out the noise and just listen. We can feel his touch through those who love us and through other believers who have the Holy Spirit living in them.
What did the disciples feel when they looked up and saw he was gone? What would you feel? They decided to have a prayer meeting in an upstairs room, possibly the same one where they had the Last Supper. All the disciples, the brothers of Jesus, several women including Jesus’ mother Mary were all there. The prayer meeting went on for several days and during that time they elected Matthias (by drawing straws) to replace Judas Iscariot.
Just 10 days after Jesus had ascended, at the feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to the place where they were gathered just as Jesus had promised. Pentecost is celebrated in Israel on the 50thday after Passover. It celebrates the giving of the Law on Mt Sinai. Isn’t it amazing that it was on the 50th day after Jesus death and resurrection that the Holy Spirit was given? It is a reminder that new life in Christ is from the Spirit not the Law.
Acts 2:1-13
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
There is always a sceptical voice whenever God does something great isn’t there? Have you had that situation when some person throws water on you when you’re feeling excited about what God is doing in your life or in the lives of others. We need to trust God and not doubt when we hear the voice of the sceptic. But I also think that sometimes we need to kick back and strongly defend our belief. What is required is the thing that Peter did next which is to boldly proclaim what he believed. Talk back to that sceptical voice and put it in its place. The Holy Spirit spoke strongly through Peter with a convicting sermon and 3000 were saved, probably a few sceptics included! The Holy Spirit will speak through you too!
The 2nd chapter of Acts finishes with a beautiful picture of a growing healthy Church.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
You are part of that same Church that God is still growing today! You are part of the Body of Christ that is alive and well. When the authorities nailed Jesus to the Cross they thought they had put an end to him. But with God there are no endings, only new beginnings. And every believer is joined to Him and is part of His Victory.
Swallowed into earth's dark womb
Death has triumphed, that's what they say
But try to hold him in the tomb
The Son of Life rose on the third day
Just look the gates of hell are falling
Crumbling from the inside out
He's bursting through the walls with laughter
Listen to the angels shout
It is finished
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
His plan of battle fooled them all
They led him off to prison to die
But as he entered hades hall
He broke those hellish chains with a cry
Death has triumphed, that's what they say
But try to hold him in the tomb
The Son of Life rose on the third day
Just look the gates of hell are falling
Crumbling from the inside out
He's bursting through the walls with laughter
Listen to the angels shout
It is finished
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
His plan of battle fooled them all
They led him off to prison to die
But as he entered hades hall
He broke those hellish chains with a cry
Listen to the demons screaming
See him bruise the serpent's head
The prisoners of hell redeeming
All the power of death is dead
It is finished
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
Look the gates of hell they're falling
Crumbling from the inside out
He's bursting through the walls with laughter
Listen to the angels shout
See him bruise the serpent's head
The prisoners of hell redeeming
All the power of death is dead
It is finished
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
Look the gates of hell they're falling
Crumbling from the inside out
He's bursting through the walls with laughter
Listen to the angels shout
It is finished
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
It is finished
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
It is finished
He has done it
Life conquered death
Jesus Christ has won it
