Today’s Reading: Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Psalm 22
Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. – Luke 24:44-45
As we begin today’s study of the word of God, let’s stop for a moment and thank the Lord for opening our minds to a deeper understanding of scripture. Let’s give Him praise in advance for generously providing us with wisdom and knowledge to help us on this journey of grace we are walking. Lord, open our minds and write on our hearts; align our desires with yours and guide our thoughts, we pray. Amen.
And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.
“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” – Luke 24:46-49
The message going out to all nations is that there is forgiveness for those who repent of their sins. That’s great news! In fact, that’s the good news of salvation. The prophets foretold the suffering and death of the Messiah, but it had a purpose. It was because of the sins of generation after generation that an ultimate sacrifice had to be made; it was for our redemption that Christ willingly became that sacrificial Lamb.
And there’s more! Jesus was about to ascend into heaven but he was leaving them with a gift — the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the disciples to wait, the Spirit was coming. And with the Holy Spirit’s presence would come power from heaven — power that would do a work in those who surrender their lives for the sake of bringing others to a saving knowledge of Christ.
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs. – Mark 16:19-20
Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God. – Luke 24:50-53
The disciples enjoyed their time with Jesus but, just as he had foretold, his time with them came to an end. They may not have felt ready, but he had been preparing them for this moment throughout his whole ministry. He told them over and over again that he would go away, and he laid out for them the importance of believing IN him in order to spend eternity WITH him.
YOU MUST BELIEVE
Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come…You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.” – John 8:21-24
“…But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” – Luke 13:5b
YOU MUST REPENT
Believing that Jesus is the Messiah is only the first step in finding salvation. Even the demons believe in God (James 2:19). Jesus made it clear that there needs to be a change in direction — that our faith needs to be reflected in our actions. Repent of your old way of life and follow Jesus into a new way. Repent — change direction; do a 180 degree turn. Stop the momentum of your bad decisions and head the other way.
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? – James 2:14
And when an unbeliever comes to faith in God, repenting of their sins, there is much rejoicing in heaven. Jesus who is eternal, Jesus who had witnessed it firsthand, told his listeners that the angels of God celebrate when the prodigal returns home.
“I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” – Luke 15:10b
YOU MUST BE READY
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Luke 12:35-40
The peace experienced at the ascension of Jesus exists when we hold tight to the promise that He will come again. So believe He is who He said He is, repent of your sins so that your faith is evidenced by your deeds, and be ready for His return.
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” – Luke 12:48b