Post Resurrection 2025
Good morning,
The Lord Jesus has risen from the dead. What’s next?
Jesus gives the Great commission. He walks among men for forty days. He tells the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. He ascends into heaven. Matthias is chosen to replace Judas.
Jesus gives the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)
Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus walks among men for forty days (Acts 1:1-3)
The former treatise have 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 that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Wait (Acts 1:4-8) (Read Joel 2:28-29, Isaiah 44:3)
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus walked among men for forty days. Reminding them of what He had said, why He came, and what was to come.
He told His apostles to wait for the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit prophesied in Joel 2:28-29.
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”
The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was witnessing. It is God’s plan that believers in Christ tell others of what Christ has done for them and about what He will do for others. When we witness for Christ, we do not go alone. The Holy Spirit leads, guides, and convicts’ men of their sin. Also, it is not our purpose to lead others to Christ. We can’t. It is the Holy Spirit’s work to save the lost. All we do is tell them of their lost condition, why they need to be redeemed, and of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
But then Jesus tells them to wait for the fulfillment of the promise. Are we willing to wait on the Lord? We don’t like to wait. We want what we want and we want it now! Waiting, coupled with prayer and supplication, allows God to prepare us for what He has next. God is in no hurry.
Are we?
ASCENSION OF JESUS (Acts 1:9-11)
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Jesus leaves again. This time, His followers understood why He came, the purpose of the cross, their purpose of telling others about Christ. Then the two men tell those assembled that Jesus is coming again.
Do we believe Jesus is coming back? It is the believers’ blessed hope. When He comes next, He meets believers in the sky, as we are raptured out of this world. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)
That should be a tremendous comfort to each of us. God has not forgotten us. If we have trusted Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, Jesus will come and take us home to live with Him forever!
Hallelujah, come quickly Lord Jesus!
PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION (Acts 1:12-14)
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zealots, and Judas the brother of James.14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Jesus told them to wait. They went and spent time praying and asking God for wisdom and direction.
The only way we can discern God’s will in our lives is through prayer and the reading of God’s word, the Bible. God has revealed everything we would need to know through His word.
Do we desire to know God’s will for our lives? Enough to read what God wrote to us outlining His plan? And then to obey it? There’s the rub. We want God to see things our way, answer prayer the way we want, and give us what we desire. That is not how God works.
God sees the big picture. He knows everything about us. His plan for us will help us to grow and mature in Him. His plan brings Him glory and us closer to Him.
We have a choice to make. Follow God’s plan or reject it.
What will we do?
MATTHIAS CHOSEN TO REPLACE JUDAS (Acts 1:15-26)
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
The disciples prayed, sought God’s will, and voted. Matthias won. God answers prayer.
WHAT WE LEARNED
Wait
Pray and ask
Do
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com