Commission and Ascension

Commission and Ascension

Monday May19, 2008: Mark 16:15 –18

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Background: John Mark’s account of the Lord’s last words to the disciples before the Ascension.
What differentiates the two types of people in the world today? Those who believe and are baptized and those who don’t believe, baptized or not.
What was the purpose of the signs? Proof that the gospel they preached was true. (This is before the New Testament was written.)

Tuesday May 20, 2008: Mark 16:19

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
What was the implication of His being taken up? His work to clear sins was done; the disciples’ work as Apostles and witnesses and gospel preachers was just about to begin.

Wednesday May 21, 2008: Luke 24:46 –49

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Background: Dr. Luke’s account of the Lord’s last words to the disciples before the Ascension.
Why was it necessary for Christ to suffer and then rise from the dead? He took the punishment for your sins; it was now up to you to repent to have your sins erased. The other option: don’t repent and pay later.
Why did these eyewitnesses have to wait? Power! The Holy Spirit was promised to them by the Father.

Thursday May 22, 2008: Luke 24:50 –51

And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
Why were they so joyful if the Lord had left them? Their sins forgiven, their destiny was heaven.

Friday May 23, 2008: Acts 1:7–9

And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Background: Dr. Luke’s sequel in Acts begins with the Lord’s last words to the disciples and the Ascension.
Did the Apostles travel to the ends of the earth with the gospel? Yes. Thomas was martyred in India.
What does Ascension mean? The Lord Jesus Christ left earth’s surface, went up and disappeared into a cloud.