The Easter Difference – Ascension takes us to the top of a mountain. The Apostle’s were standing there looking into the sky. I don’t know how long they would’ve stayed there, so God sent them a couple angels to redirect. “Guys, he’s going to come back. You’ve got work to do.”
Most Excellent
Maybe a word of introduction is in order for the first verse of the Acts of the Apostles. 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. Who is this Theophilus? Well Dr. Luke (not one of the twelve Apostles), wrote the book of Acts. Luke also penned the gospel account that bears his name. In the first couple verses of the Gospel of Luke he addresses Theophilus as “most excellent.” Why the lack of formality in the second letter? It’s common to address people you don’t know that well in a more formal fashion, but when was the last time you regarded a sibling as “most excellent”? Some think after reading the gospel account, by the power of the Spirit, Theophilus became a Christian – a brother in the faith.
Victory Tour
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men 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. We know that Jesus is still answering out prayers and watching over us, but here Luke reminds us that Jesus did finish his work of saving the world. He lived a perfect life and died in our place to take away our sins. Like a Senior in college who finished his final term and now drives across the country with friends, Jesus goes on a forty-day tour of the area letting everyone know that he was, in fact, alive. In the next verse we hear how he sat and ate with people. That’s still a tried and true way to get to know someone – share food. How many first dates DON’T involve some kind of beverage or food as we get to know people. The resurrection is a fact. Because Jesus lives you will live forever, and everything that he said is true. Jesus work of saving the world was done.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s message taken from Acts 1, The Easter Difference – Ascension.
Book(s): Acts
Series: Easter Difference
Tag(s): Easter
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg