Journey to Pentecost

May 10, 2010       Luke 24.50

He went to Jared’s!  You have heard this diamond jewelry commercial many times!   Going to someplace special for a short time.   Jesus didn’t take His followers to Jared’s…but He did take them to Bethany.   This is where He ascended to heaven.  You know the story.  The angels asked why they were gazing into heaven.  They made that awesome statement, “He will return in like manner!”  Awesome event!

Jesus took His followers to Bethany for just a short time.  Bethany means “house of misery.”  Was Jesus saying that because of what He had already accomplished and what He was about to accomplish – misery would be short-lived?  Our “Bethany’s” will be short-lived because of what Jesus has done for us.  There are several interesting points here.

First of all, Jesus led His followers there (Bethany).  Second, He would supernaturally disappear from their sight.  Third, there would be a supernatural angelic appearance…something they were getting used to.  Fourth, they would have to go back to the place of promise.  Fifth, they would receive a final supernatural experience – the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 

When they would finally arrive at Jerusalem and receive their experience in Pentecost – it would be a permanent experience.  Bethany was short-lived.  It was a short stay.  Jerusalem would be where they receive a permanent experience.

I think we overlook our “short-term” experiences and down play their importance to the long-term.  Obviously Jesus led His followers out of Jerusalem for a reason.  Was He teaching them something?  Was this another kingdom principle He was teaching?   I really think so.  You see somewhere between Bethany (misery) and Jerusalem – some of the followers decided to lose their way.  There were only 120 followers in the upper room.  Jesus had many more followers than that!   Where did they go?  They got ties up with misery!  They got bogged down with misery!  Maybe Jesus was saying to you and I not to allow those short-term misery moments in our life to keep us from the greater blessing just around the corner.  The same old saying, “Short term pain – long-term gain.”   I want to encourage you to move forward.  Go beyond the misery of your “Bethany” and journey on to Bethany.   Empowerment for life and all of its ups and downs awaits you there!

Mother’s Day

I want to say happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there who will read the blog today.  What a special day for all of us to remember our mom.  As most of you know I lost my mom almost two years ago.  She passed away due to a massive stroke.  I lost a not only a mom – I lost a woman who was a prayer partner of mine.  Mom worried about everything but her worry served as a bitter-sweet pill for most of us.  It was her worry that led her to her altar of prayer.  She is missed.  It took me a while to realize that she wasn’t there to answer the phone when I called.  It wasn’t easy.  But time allowed this short-term experience (Bethany) to walk me to Jerusalem.  There I discovered the empowering of the Holy Spirit.  Through His power I am able to accept the fact that mom is gone – but the greater blessing is farther ahead.  Mom is with the Lord and she is waiting for us.   She endured her “Bethany.”   She made it to her Jerusalem.

To all the mom’s out there – endure your Bethany’s.  All the pain, heartache and trial that you may go through amounts to your Bethany.  They are the short term.   The long-term goal here is to listen to the voice of the Lord and make it to Jerusalem.  I want to encourage the moms out there to push forward.  Pursue the promise.  Go for the empowerment of Jerusalem.  Stay there and wait on the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  Your life as a believer and as a mom will never be the same.  Pursue the promise.