Acts 1:1-4 NKJV
“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me…”
Last week we discussed the crucifixion of Christ and how He was not the only one:
Final moments at the cross
The Resurrection (Appearances)
Sunday, Easter Morning:
Following Sunday after Easter:
Sometime after Easter:
Final Appearance 40 Days from Easter Sunday:
Final Instructions
There at the Mount of Olives, Jesus gives the disciples their final instructions. Although they had been commissioned to go into all the world, they were instructed to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father.
The disciples imagined that Jesus was getting ready to establish His kingdom. However, Jesus informs them that it is not their responsibility to know the times. Instead, Jesus tells them to wait to receive power from the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 - “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Notice that Jesus says that they will receive power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses “to Me.” The Holy Spirit was going to give them power in order to be witnesses. The apostles witnessed many things with Jesus: His life, His words, parables, miracles, prayer, His arrest, His betrayal, many things. However, I believe that Jesus is referring to a specific event, the resurrection of Christ.
The Holy Spirit was going to give them power to be a witness of what they had seen with their own eyes. This was very important, as the apostles were vital to the growth of the early church in the New Testament. They were instrumental because they were “eye witnesses” of the risen Lord. The oral word of the apostles were important and were given extra credence. Eventually when the apostles began to die off, there became a tremens sense of urgency to make an account of Jesus from some of the remaining apostles. Then the written word of the apostles became what they held on to, which eventually became the gospels.
The apostles were called to be witnesses… of Jesus’ resurrection through the power of the Holy Spirit. They were called to be witnesses of the resurrection, of what they had seen with their own eyes. The chief priests tried to disseminate false information in order to get as many people to be deceived into believing a lie concerning the resurrection. Does that sound familiar? The devil hasn’t learned any new tricks. He is still trying to deceive people into believing literally anything else other than the truth.
However, the devil could not stop it then, and he still can’t stop it today. Over 70% of America will be in church today hearing the gospel message of how Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. The resurrection mattered then, and it still matters today.
Because of the Resurrection:
1 Corinthians 15:14 - “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:17 - “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”
1 Corinthians 15:20 - "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
1 Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
