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“SATIS EST” AND THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 1:1-11 
Ascension of our Lord, Year A 
Analysis by Brian Moeller 

1In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and 2teach until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After 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. 4While 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; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.  8But 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.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They 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.” 

“As beloved children of God, baptized and saved by the blood of the Lamb, we carry out our calling to be witnesses to Christ. Recognizing that it is enough for the unity of the church to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments, we set aside all other barriers that keep people from faith.”

Author’s Note:  For more than two millennia, the Christian faith has been borne and nurtured through the preaching of Christ’s gospel and the administration of the sacraments.  The Lutheran Reformers confessed this to be at the very heart of the church’s unity in its mission and ministry: “it is enough for the true unity of the church to agree concerning the teaching of the gospel and the administration of the sacraments” (Augsburg Confession, Article VII). This confessing tradition, on the authoritative winds of the Holy Spirit, is reflected in this text study. 

DIAGNOSIS: Enough is Never Enough for Us 

Step One: Initial Diagnosis (External Problem) – Abuse of Power 
Free from death and the grave, the resurrected Christ appears to his disciples and is with them for forty days. He offers them “many convincing proofs” (v.3), and says they will soon receive power from the Holy Spirit. This power will allow them to be witnesses to Christ, sharing his promise through baptizing and preaching and carrying our deeds that will help bring faith to people across the earth. 

Still, we struggle as a community of faith to see our source of unity in these “means of grace” through which the Holy Spirit showers us with faith and hope. We add stipulations to the Gospel message that are self-serving. We make judgments on who is worthy of the promise of Christ and commit terrible abuses of the power shared with us.  

Step Two: Advanced Diagnosis (Internal Problem) – Faithless and Heretical 
Like spoiled children, we take for granted the life-saving message we have, and refuse to share Word and Sacrament with others who are in need of them. They don’t deserve what we have. Besides, if we gave it to them, we wouldn’t be special anymore, would we? As our faith fades, so does our interest in saving others. 

While claiming to be Christians, we really become gods unto ourselves. Deep down, we really aren’t interested in Christ’s “sweet exchange” of his righteousness for our sins. Instead, we fall back on our old, ungodly habit of seeking salvation through our own machinations. 

Step Three: Final Diagnosis (Ultimate Problem) – Condemnation and death 
Our thoughts and actions have far deeper consequences than we care to realize. In disobeying God’s Law, we have alienated ourselves from God and stand under judgment. There’s no deal to be made, no blaming someone else, or “alternate facts” to be presented. We stand guilty of sedition against our Creator. Left to our own devices, there is no defense we can make that will save us from the punishment that we have earned for ourselves. Our worst fears – the ones we were unwilling to entrust to God and his life-saving power – become the reality we have created for ourselves. 

PROGNOSIS: Satis est – It is Enough 

Step Four: Initial Prognosis (Ultimate Solution) – Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection 
“While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 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.” (v. 10-11) 

The disciples (and we with them) hear the promise of the Gospel – that the crucified, died and risen Christ has redeemed them from all judgment, and in ascending to heaven will have his eye of benefits upon the whole world.  This same risen Lord will return for us all – Christ will come again! The Word preached by messengers of the gospel (not only the two angelic figures, but all who are angel-messengers of promise) brings salvation to all of humanity. 

Step Five: Advanced Prognosis (Internal Solution) – Faithful and determined 
The gift of the Holy Spirit – first to the disciples, and later to all the baptized, changes everything. It’s through the Advocate that faith grows in each of us, nurtured by hearing the preached gospel. We receive power from above, just like these waiting disciples of the early church and throughout the church’s ministry. We are converted from faithless and judgmental heretics to Spirit-filled Christ-trusters who place all their hopes in the Lord who makes them new through his redeeming and sustaining promise. 

Step Six: Final Prognosis (External Solution) – Witnessing to all the ends of the earth 
We don’t know when Christ will return. But through our Spirit-given faith, we recognize the urgency in witnessing Christ’s promise of the new life with all others – not just our family, friends and neighbors, but with all people – even those whom we may consider enemies. 

As beloved children of God, baptized and saved by the blood of the Lamb, we carry out our calling to be witnesses to Christ. Recognizing that it is enough for the unity of the church to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments, we set aside all other barriers that keep people from faith. We enjoy a new freedom in trusting that through Christ our universe is in God’s gentle and merciful care. Thanks be to God!