Who is Jesus? Chapter 58 Jesus Gives the Great Commission

 

Who is Jesus? Chapter 58 Jesus Gives the Great Commission

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 For I passed on to you the most important points that I received: Jesus, The Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures — and is still alive! — and he was seen by Peter, Cephas, and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 brothers at one time. Next, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles, and finally he was seen by me.

Today we will retell the events leading up to the Ascension of Jesus and His return to heaven. After his suffering death and burial, Jesus presented himself alive to many, showing them proofs, for forty days as He explained about the kingdom of God.

Forty days had gone by, so when a large group had come together on the mount of Olives, they asked Jesus, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

And he said to them, “Know that it is written, by the Prophets, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. It is important for you to stay in the city of Jerusalem and wait for the promise, until you are clothed with power from on high.” Which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe in my name they will cast out wicket spirits; they will speak in new tongues; if they accidentally pick up serpents with their hands; and if they accidentally drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

And when Jesus had said these things, as they were watching Him, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were shocked and gazing into heaven as he went up before them, behold, two Angels who looked like men stood by them in sparkling white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

You might think it strange that Jesus would leave his followers after proving to them for 40 days that He was alive and risen from the dead?

You see, Jesus in a physical form could only appear to small groups, but if he would leave and return to heaven, He would be able to send the Holy Spirit to live in the hearts of each person who believes.

In this manner, Jesus was multiplied immensely by the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Now believers in mass could go forth in His name and proclaim salvation and everlasting life to those who would listen and receive their message.

It has been given to you, and now you can share what you know.