What Happened When Jesus Left?

We have just finished following Jesus’ final week on earth (see the 7-part series: The Final Week of the Incarnated Christ). It culminated with Jesus leaving to heaven.

The Old Testament teaches us about how God created everything. We watched painfully, how His children turned away from Him repeatedly. Yet, He always kept an outstretched arm – beseeching them with His love.

For those who stuck by Him in that fallen world, He offered the hope of a coming Messiah. And He kept reassuring them about it for 1500 years.

In the Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus shows up – the personification of Jehovah. He laid down His life for our salvation, glorifying His Father, who in turn, glorified the Son. Subsequently, the resurrected Christ was elevated again to His rightful divinity, at His Father’s right hand. There, He was entrusted with the care of all God’s children, through the Holy Spirit.

Now, in the remainder of the New Testament, we will explore the rest of what Christ wanted us to know. All of which is given to us by the apostles, through Holy Spirit inspiration.

We begin in the Bible book entitled The Acts of the Apostles, whose authorship is ascribed to the apostle Luke. It describes the formation of the early church when Jesus left; (He never really ‘leaves, He is always everywhere, like His Father), we are just referring to His body…

After Jesus ascended, the 11 apostles returned to Jerusalem and stayed in an ‘upper room,’ that became their meeting place. Along with other disciples of Christ, this initial group numbered 120. It included the women who were at Jesus’ tomb, His mother and His 4 brothers.

This new ‘church of Christ’ gathered in that upper room to pray. Peter addressed them, saying that Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Christ was a fulfilled prophecy regarding the apostle’s death:

Let their dwelling place be desolate; let no one live in their tents. Ps. 69:25 NKJV

He also stated that there was an additional prophetic mandate, that the vacancy created by Judas’ death must be filled:

Let his years be few; let someone else take his position. Ps. 109:8 NLT

A new apostle was chosen – Matthias.

On the day of Pentecost, (the 2^nd annual harvest festival – celebrated fifty days after Passover), the church gathered in the upper room again:

Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.

Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. Acts 2:2 – 4. NLT

So, the church members are being empowered by the Holy Spirit to be able to speak in different languages – which they use, to praise God for His mighty works.

The commotion of the cacophony of different languages drew a curious crowd, many of whom were foreign travelers, amazed that these Hebrews spoke their language. Others thought that they were speaking gibberish, or that they were intoxicated.

Peter rebukes them, saying that it is far too early in the day to have been drinking. Then, he delivered his 1^st sermon, beginning with declaring that this phenomenon is a fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (Joel 2:28-32.):

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’ Acts 2:17 NLT

‘And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below – blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’ Acts 2:19 – 21. NLT

God is telling the crowd, through Peter, that the countdown has now commenced for the earth’s final days before the end of time, and for the redemption of His children. And Peter says that this ‘speaking in tongues’ is the first manifestation of Jehovah’s power, through the Holy Spirit, to facilitate that end.

During his preaching, Peter says that God has sent His Son to perform miracles so that they might believe. But that they killed Him instead. He also informed them that some of the members of this first church had actually seen the resurrected Christ.

Finally, Peter said that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was proof that Jesus was now at the right hand of His Father. Then, he upbraids them again for their complicity in Christ’s crucifixion.

In response, the crowd grew sorrowful and regretful, and they plead to Peter tell them how to right their wrong. He answers:

“Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away – all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Acts 2:38, 39. NLT

3000 people were added to the ‘first church’ that day:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.

They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.

And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Acts 2:42 – 47. NLT

Now the adventures begin…

Peter and John went to the Temple to pray. As they arrived, they came upon a crippled man who was begging for alms. Peter answers:

“I don’t have any silver of gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Act 3:6 NLT

The man was healed! He followed Peter and John into the temple, leaping and praising God. Temple parishioners gathered around this ‘healer.’

Peter protests, saying that God did the healing, glorifying the Son. The healing was done in Jesus’ name through his faith in it. Then, he brings both the nature of Christ, as well as how this crowd and dealt with Him, into a sharp and telling focus:

“This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!’ Acts 3:13 – 15. NLT

Like any good preacher, Peter lets his audience feel their sin for a few moments, (to see their lack and their need). Then, he offers them salvation:

“Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah – that he must suffer these things.

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Acts 3:17 – 21. NLT

“You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on the earth will be blessed.’” Acts 3:25 NLT

Peter is saying that Jehovah intended for the Jews to receive salvation first, so, he is re-extending His invitation.

And the number in the church swelled to 5000…

Goodnight and God bless.

Miracles of Healing and Raising of the Dead

Last time, we finished our complete study of the Sermon on the Mount, (see Part one; Part two; Part three; and Part four).

Next, Jesus and His apostles journey back to the city of Capernaum, where His powers are on display in their full glory.

There, Jesus is approached by a Roman Centurion – an officer in charge of 100 men; (note that the apostle Luke’s account states that it was agents of the Centurion that approached Him, but the verbal exchange was the same, as they spoke for him, so there is really no contradiction).

We are told that the Centurion loved Israel and built them a synagogue (Lk. 7:5). The Centurion speaks:

“Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” Mt. 8:5-8. NLT

The humility of the powerful Centurion in the presence of Jesus is remarkable. He obviously knew what most of Israel refused to believe, about this ‘Savior’ – his faith so strong, that he knew Christ possessed the power of God, with such strength, that His physical presence was unnecessary.

The Son of God acknowledges the Centurion’s conviction:

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world – from the east and west – and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites – those for whom the Kingdom was prepared – will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mt. 8:10 – 12. NLT

Jesus is saying that many non-Jews (Gentiles) with faith in Christ, will be given entrance into God’s eternity – even interacting with the patriarchal saints; whereas those faithless Jews will not. Christ responds to the Centurion:

“Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment. Mt. 8:13 CSB

One of the BIG takeaways is that the Son of God’s divine healing was dependent upon the Centurion’s faith. Indeed, any movement of God on His Children’s behalf, requires faith.

Jesus and His entourage travel to a nearby town, and as they approach the city gates, Jesus takes note of a funeral procession for an only son of a widowed woman. He reacts:

When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man, he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother. Lk. 7:13 – 15. NLT

See what happened here? Christ brushed aside the Pharisaic version of the Jewish law that forbade one from touching a coffin – choosing instead to restore life where there was none. The news of this healing spread like wildfire.

Meanwhile, John the Baptist is still sitting in King Herod’s prison, depressed, and wondering if Jesus is really the Messiah. So, he sends some of his disciples to ask Him that very thing. Jesus always has His own way of responding:

“Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard – the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor…God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.” Lk. 7:22, 23. NLT

Notice that Jesus does not directly claim to be the Messiah. He wants John the Baptist to come to that conclusion himself, after considering the fruit of His ministry, which are those that the prophets foretold the Messiah would have. The last part, the warning about falling away, is to encourage John and his disciples to hang onto their faith in Him.

John’s disciples leave, and Jesus turns to a crowd that was watching that exchange, to speak of John the Baptist:

“What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing [entirely unsuited for the harsh wilderness]? Those who wear splendid clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces! But what did you [really] go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one far more [eminent and remarkable] than a prophet [who foretells the future]. This is the one of whom it is written [by the prophet Malachi],

‘Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you,

Who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater [in privilege] than he.” Lk. 7:24 – 28. AMP

Jesus is defending the reputation of John the Baptist lest they slight him for his (unjust) imprisonment. He bolstered his persona by telling them he was himself the center of a prophecy as the one who prepared the people for Christ’s coming. The ‘lesser privileges’ only refer to John’s inability to watch the enter gospel play out.

Then, Christ convicts those who rejected the call of John and Himself, and who slandered both:

“For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say,

‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners! But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.” Lk. 7:33 – 35. NLT

Jesus says that the Jews tried to disparage He and John but says that the proof of who they are and what they say, will be in the fruit of the saints that they are preparing for heaven.

Christ continues by also convicting those who have rejected Him in the cities He had already visited – even after He performed His miracles:

“But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgement than for you.” Mt. 11:24 CSB

(You might recall, the punishment of the unrepentant city of Sodom was exceeding harsh.)

Jesus is beginning to display some righteous anger, but it is born out of His love for God’s creations and from His compassionate pain that He must endure, over those who don’t become children of God. Why? Because their choice brings eternal divine rejection.

The Son of God changes His tactics by revealing His true nature and the gravity that surrounds His first Advent:

“My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Mt. 11:27 NLT

We have seen thus far that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and that He can heal the sick and raise the dead. Now, He is revealing that all authority, (especially regarding God’s salvation), has been given to Him.

In addition, we see that we cannot even connect with Jehovah without the grace of Christ. Jesus’ intent here is not to boast about His divine status, but only to show them the magnitude of the authority with which He speaks.

Jesus is so greatly committed to showing the people the love of God, and that He can empathize with their lot in life, He immediately changes His tone, humbles Himself, and invites them into His arms:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Mt. 11:28 – 30. NLT

Jesus knows that we carry the troubles of the world and the pain of our past mistakes upon our backs. He loves us so much, that He willingly asks us to unload our heaviness and lay all our worries at His feet. All it takes is faith. Then, we can all walk together buoyantly within the light of our God…

Next time, we’ll take a look at our role at the time of Christmas.