Call to Commitment

 

KJV    1611

Infallible proofs of the resurrection

1. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2. until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 

3. to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 

4. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 

5. for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  

Luke wrote both of his books to an acquaintance, whom he addressed, in his introduction to the Gospel of Luke, as the most excellent or most noble Theophilus.  Because the name means, Friend of God, some think that Luke used the name symbolically to address the reader of his books. However, the common believer is never given such a highly dignified title as most excellent, so I am sure that Theophilus was a member of the nobility, a high Roman or Greek official. Both Felix and Festus were addressed identically. Theophilus had been converted and Luke wrote his accounts to him, personally, to establish him in the faith.

 I want to point out the order of two verbs that Luke used, in verse 1, as a general description of the Lord’s work on earth… “to do and teach”. As the writer listened to the stories of Christ, given to him by eye witnesses, he was left with the impression that Jesus revealed the authority of His person to the multitudes by performing a powerful sign and then, followed the miracle with teaching. There are many illustrations of this principle in the Gospels, but I will just mention an outstanding one in John, chapter 6. It is the account of Jesus feeding 5,000 men, plus women and children, and in the same chapter, he expounded the truth that He was the Bread of Life that came down from heaven.

 We should notice another verb that Luke used just before those that we have already considered. I am pointing to the word “began”. The writer considers his Gospel only told the story of the beginning of Jesus’ work. He continued in the book of Acts and still today He is alive and active in the activities of His true church. Matthew quoted Him, promising His disciples, “I am with you always (all the days), even to the end of the age” (Mt.28:20). Mark put it this way: “The Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen” (Mt.16:20).

 Luke wrote more of the early life of Christ than any of the other three evangelists. Actually, even before His birth, Luke dedicated almost the entire first chapter to the promise and birth of His forerunner, John the Baptist, who was born six months before Jesus (Lk.1:36). In the second chapter, he gave outstanding details, regarding His birth and the angelic annunciation to the humble shepherds. Luke described His presentation in the temple, only 40 days old, according to the Law of Moses (Lev.12:2-4; 6-8). There Joseph and Mary met the prophet Simeon and the prophetess, Anna, and others, who were waiting for His coming (Lk.2:22-38). He tells of the Passover, when the family went to Jerusalem from Nazareth and how the 12-year-old Jesus was left behind, when they began their return. It caused great consternation to Mary and Joseph, but as an adolescent, He made it clear to them, that He was already on the time schedule of His Father in heaven (Lk.2:41-51) .

Three knolls of the Mt. of Olives

 From that point on, Luke´s Gospel, generally, follows the history of the other two synoptic Gospels, Matthew and Mark, telling of Jesus’ ministry, His death, burial, resurrection and closed the book with the ascension from the Mount of Olives. In Acts 1, verse 2, Luke mentioned His ascension, which pointed to His heavenly acceptation. I like the way the writer of Hebrews expressed it: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Heb.4:14). He passed through the first and second heavens and did not stop, until He arrived at the Holy of Holies and sat down at the right hand of the Father (Mk.16:19). This is of extreme importance, because it affirms that His work at the cross, which resulted in the forgiveness of sins, was approved in heaven’s throne room.

 Notice, for a moment, the heavenly authority, with which He gave commandments to the disciples (v.2). They were given through the Holy Spirit to a chosen people to be carried out through the full church age. The first chosen ones were all Galileans and we will return to that fact a little later.

 For 40 days, He gave “infallible proofs” of His resurrection to more than 500 disciples. The number 40 has a symbolic meaning throughout the Bible. The biblical examples help us to grasp it significance: The rain that brought the flood, fell for 40 days (Gen.7:12); Moses was on Sinai for 40 days and nights (Ex. 24:18). Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years; the spies searched out Canaan for 40 days (Num.13:25). The Law ordered that a criminal could not receive more than 40 blows (Dt. 25:3); at various times, Israel fell into the hands of their enemies for 40 years. Goliath challenged the Israelite army for 40 days (1 S. 17:16); the prophet Elijah walked for 40 days, after eating food, prepared by the Angel (1 K. 19:8). The symbolism continued in the New Testament. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days; we began this paragraph, stating the 40-day proof of His resurrection (1 Cor.15:5-8).

 Meditating over these examples, you may begin to see what the number 40 symbolizes. Can you see that it signified a testing period, sometimes a crisis interim time, which ushered in dramatic changes? In some cases, punishment was included with the trial. Sometimes the period lasted 40 days and other times 40 years. We will return now to the infallible proofs of the resurrection.

 Paul taught the new Gentile believers the reality of a resurrected Christ and warned them of the consequences, had He not risen (1 Cor. 15:17-20). When women found the tomb empty, they returned to Jerusalem. On the way, Jesus met them and they physically embraced His feet. What Peter and John witnessed in the tomb (Lk.24:12), ruled out the possibility of the Lord’s body being stolen, because of the orderly form in which his grave clothes were arranged. Thieves would not bother to put things back in place after a crime. 

 When the disciples were terrified at the appearance of Jesus, thinking that they had seen a spirit (Lk. 24:37), He invited them to look carefully at His hands and feet and to actually touch him (Lk.24:39-40). He said, “Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” Then, He took food and physically ate before their eyes (Lk. 24:43).

 John gave the account of Thomas’ doubt, something which encourages me, because it prompted Jesus to take another step towards the undeniable proof of His resurrection. He invited Thomas to observe the nail prints and touch the area of His side, where the lance entered (Jn. 20:25-27). It was not a spirit, it was a resurrected human body. Some might doubt this reality, because Jesus was able to enter a room, where the doors were tightly shut (Jn.20:19, 26). Just remember, that it was the same body that walked on water (Mt. 14:26-31), something which was also physically impossible. It is of great comfort that Jesus could go to His disciples, in whatever situation in which they found themselves, either in a closed room or in the middle of the sea.

 Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus taught His disciples and the people, in general, of the nature of His kingdom. He informed the Roman governor, Pilate, publicly, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here" (Jn.18:36). The literal kingdom would come, but first, His people must be prepared for it, and so, in the present reign, He seeks to rule over the human heart. One day, the church would reign with Him from Jerusalem for a thousand years. For the present time, He gave us the Great Commission, and the present task for the disciples was to be equipped to carry out that mission. The Great Commission still stands for us today, until it has been completely fulfilled. The purpose of Luke’s book, Acts, is to tell of this work.

 The immediate and most essential need for them was a divine preparation, in order to carry out all that this book tells us that they would accomplish. Without Holy Spirit-power, it would be impossible. They were not to leave Jerusalem, until they received the “Promise of the Father” (v.4).

 Jerusalem was the capital of Israel, a land, which God especially claimed, as His own (Lev.25:23). Jerusalem was the chosen city, which was and is so significant in the plan of God. It was there that the mysterious Priest/King Melchizedek ruled and ministered (Gen.14:18). The Lord led Abraham there to offer Isaac in sacrifice and it is where David purchased land, on which the temple would be built. It was the only site, on which the Israelites could offer sacrifices. For that reason,  since the Roman, Titus, destroyed the temple, they have not been able to rebuild it or completely perform their religious rights to this day. Jerusalem was notorious for murdering prophets (Lk.13:33), and yet Isaiah called it “the Valley of Vision” (Is.22:1), where prophets received inspiration. It was set aside for the crucifixion, the resurrection, the ascension of the Messiah, and the place, where the Holy Spirit would be outpoured. From Jerusalem, in the future, Christ will literally reign for a thousand years.

 For people to understand how essential repentance is in the plan of God, just before Jesus was introduced to Israel, John the Baptist’s entire life was set aside to administer a baptism unto repentance. Only repentance could prepare a way into the hearts of man, so that they could receive Christ. However, John understood that his ministry was not to be compared to the Lord's (Mk.1:7). He immersed the people in water, but Jesus would immerse them in the Holy Spirit.

 The ones that Jesus was instructing, were particularly unqualified for an eternal plan. They could not begin in their present spiritual state, but must wait a while longer.  He had instructed them about the work of the Holy Spirit, particularly in John 14:16-26; 15:26; and 16:7-15. It was a baptism, to which John Baptist had referred, as a work of the Messiah. It was not a water baptism, but a spiritual enablement, that every disciple must receive, if he is to bear fruit which will glorify the Father (Mt.3:11; Mk.1:8; Lk.3:16; Jn.1:33). It was soon to come (v.5).