The Resurrection Changes For The Better
THE RESURRECTION CHANGES FOR THE BETTER
Acts 1:1-11 (ESV)
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 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.”
Do you know why it was necessary for Jesus to remain for another forty days on earth before ascending back to heaven? Before I answer this question, it’s important to clarify first that these “40 days” are not true for everyone who dies today. For many of us Filipinos, I’m sure we all grew up being exposed to what is called the “40th Day prayers.” This practice of loved ones and friends gathering on the 40th day to pray for the soul of a loved one who died comes from the belief that the soul of the dead lingers around for 40 days before transitioning to the next life or their final destination. Many fear that if they don’t pray for the soul of the dead loved one, his or her soul will continue to wander on earth and even haunt them. However, this practice has really no basis from the Bible. No one lingers around on earth, appearing to their loved ones and friends before entering their final destiny. The Apostle Paul has clearly said in 2 Corinthians 5:8 (ESV): 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
So, if you are a believer in Christ, the moment your soul separates from your body, you are transported right away in the presence of the Lord. Of course, the contrast is that if you die without Jesus, you will find yourself suffering in hell. This doctrine is also reinforced in the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31).
Now, on the part of Jesus Christ, the 40 days on earth after the resurrection was totally necessary because the early believers, including the 11 disciples, struggled in maintaining their faith towards Him. Their disappointments brought about by His death eventually turned to some discouragements and doubts. So, the 40 days of post-resurrection appearances to different individuals and groups were all designed to convince them that Jesus is the Messiah and that He is the One whom He said He is. Obviously, they needed to be restored back to faith in order that they would affect the people around them according to the calling they have received from Jesus Christ.
Think about it - If the disciples remained confused about their faith in Christ and if they remained in their doubts, would they have turned the world upside down for Jesus Christ? Absolutely not! They could not have impacted the world in the way they did if they remained discouraged and doubtful about Jesus Christ. I believe this scenario is what is critical for us today. My prayer is that in the midst of all the difficulties and challenges we are experiencing today due to this Pandemic, we would be sensitive to what God is doing in turning people to Him. There are literally so many open doors for witnessing. There are also so many testimonies of backsliders or believers who have grown cold in their faith, who are repenting, and are going back to Jesus Christ. Last Monday, I was in a Zoom-meeting with some pastors who shared that they have been getting some feedbacks on how God is using their online services to lead people from other countries to Jesus Christ.
This morning, I have chosen this text that serves as an introduction to the book of Acts. If you are familiar with this book, the author, Dr. Luke, took the time to document the movement of the Gospel from the small group of 120 believers to hundred of thousands of believers all over the known world. From a handful of believers who were struggling with their faith, they became successful evangelists and church planters amongst the Jews and Gentiles. Evidently, the resurrection of Jesus Christ became their turning point and changed them for the better. This question is the main challenge that I want to highlight this morning. How should the resurrection of Jesus Christ directly affect our lives today? Or how should we live our lives today knowing Jesus Christ has risen from the dead? I find from our text at least three ways we can live today:
I LIVE FOR JESUS WHO IS ALIVE TODAY (v. 3)
What good is a God if He is dead? The Psalmist who was quite familiar with the dead gods of the pagans has these words to say:
Psalm 115:4-8 (ESV) 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Clearly, the Psalmist is saying that these gods are really good for nothing. You speak to them, but they can’t respond to you; you ask them for help, but they can’t aid you at all, so they are useless.
In contrast, Jesus is absolutely different! He walked with His disciples for three years. During those three years, He became their closest friend. He guided and taught them. He showed them His extraordinary powers through all the miracles He performed before them. But more than all these, He demonstrated His love, mercy, and grace towards them. When they have stumbled and fallen short, He was there ready to pick them up. Then, His death came through the cross. After He died, all of them seem to have ended up being confused and discouraged. They were like sheep left without a Shepherd. Imagine the sense of hope and the sense of confidence they all had felt when they realized that Jesus came back to life. No wonder Jesus had to make an effort in convincing them in 40 days that He was alive. He even had to assure them with these words in Matthew 28:20, “...And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Listen, the same Jesus who lived with the disciples is living with us today. He has promised to abide with us; “He will never leave us or forsake us” (Hebrews 13:5). In 1933, Alfred Henry Ackley, a pastor, was so captivated with this truth that he wrote a beautiful hymn that has inspired many believers until today. Consider some of its words:
He Lives
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today.I know that He is living, whatever men may say.I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,And just the time I need Him He's always near.
He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!He walks with me and talks with mealong life's narrow way.He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
As we live our lives, we should never lose sight of the fact that we have a Savior who is present with us at all times. He is there to help us according to our every need.
II LEAN ON THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES WITHIN US TODAY (vv.4-5)
The next important truth that we should not miss from the passage comes from verses 4-5 – “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
With these words, it is clear that Jesus commanded the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they have received the “promise of the Father.” In order to identify this specific promise, we have to go back to John 14:16-20, 26:
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Before Jesus was crucified, while He was celebrating the Passover dinner with the disciples, He gave them this promise of the coming of Holy Spirit. This occasion was the first time that He talked about the coming of the Holy Spirit and how this was so significant in their lives. He explained to them that not only would He indwell them permanently (“with you forever”), He also will be the constant Helper, Guide, and Teacher to them.
It is also important to emphasize that Jerusalem was the specified place that Jesus wanted the disciples to be when the Holy Spirit came. You see, for them who came from Galilee, Jerusalem was not their “comfort zone.” This city is where Jesus was arrested and crucified, so this was a place of violence and persecution. However, this was also the place where God would like to fulfill His promise of the Holy Spirit, because this was the very place where the Gospel of Jesus Christ was needed the most.
This event is really important because it allows us to understand why the coming of the Holy Spirit was given to us. The answer is found in verse 8 – “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.”
I trust that we don’t miss this truth that the very reason why God wants us to adequately thrive in our times is not so much for our personal survival and happiness. Because if it is, we are better off going to heaven since life there will be far more superior. Beloved, let’s not be ignorant that the main reason why He gave us the Holy Spirit is because of our calling to reach the lost people for Jesus Christ. God’s agenda for us is clearly outlined in the verse – “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Well, to be a “witness” simply means, “We have the duty to testify what Jesus Christ has done for us.” As believers, God has called us to tell others how Jesus has made a difference in our lives. Then, we should also make sure that the Gospel reaches as many people as possible, starting from our “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the world.” In other words, our witness about Jesus Christ must be consistently growing to the point that we are literally exporting the Gospel in other countries.
Are we fulfilling the main purpose for our existence? Remember, the Holy Spirit was given to us for the purpose of making our lives meaningful today. If we are neglecting our duty of sharing Jesus to others, we will also miss what the Holy Spirit can accomplish through us. I hope we don’t waste the presence and power of the Holy Spirit working in us and through us, especially nowadays, when there are so many people who are open to the Gospel. If, before, people were closing their hearts and have no time for Jesus Christ, today, they are the ones seeking for Him. Let’s take advantage of the times and walk through the doors that God is opening for us to share Jesus Christ to others.
III LOOK TO THE HOPE THAT JESUS IS RETURNING TODAY (vv.6-10)
Lastly, I would like to also highlight in the passage the emphasis on the second coming of Jesus Christ. This topic was really central in their conversation. First, in verse 3, He was “speaking to them about the Kingdom of God.” Then, this topic was followed up with the disciples’ question in verse 6, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” To which Jesus responded to in verse 7 saying, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.” Finally, the passage will end with the angels saying in verse 11, “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
So, all throughout the text, there is this consciousness that Jesus will set up His earthly millennial reign. The disciples during that time were really thinking that Jesus was already going to fulfill it right there and then, and establish His Kingdom. But Jesus quickly reminded them that only the Father had determined the right timing for His Kingdom. Nevertheless, as Jesus was slowly ascending to heaven (Just imagine the scenario how glorious this experience was for the disciples), the angels spoke to the disciples, assuring them of His return in the very same fashion.
Having been in that glorious experience, you will understand why the second coming of Jesus Christ became a major incentive for the early disciples. Listen specifically to these words of Paul in Titus 2:11-14:
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Emphasizing, especially verse 13, the second coming was a “blessed hope.” Yes, it was a source of courage and confidence in their lives and ministries. Beloved, there’s a reason why Jesus did not give us a date for His return. It is because He doesn’t want us to be careless and complacent in living our lives today. He wants us to be ready for His coming and maintain faithfulness at all times. There is no question that He can come today.
What if He returns today, will He find you faithful, actively involved in fulfilling His Kingdom agenda? Or will He find you careless and complacent? Let’s all open our eyes and acknowledge that with all the things happening around us, the second coming of Jesus is definitely much closer than what we may be expecting.
Now, going back to my main theme, has the resurrection of Jesus really impacted your life? What changes can you show to prove that you are much better today than when you started walking with Jesus? The early disciples were radically transformed. From the uneducated, shy, and fearful ordinary men, they became the most courageous and reliable proclaimers of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. My prayer is that Jesus Christ will affect us to the same extent!
- Dr. Jeremiah Lepasana