The Acts, Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Handout
The Ascension
The Ascension
Let’s take a look at all the Gospel account of the Great Commission and the ascension.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad.
18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.
32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”
33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them.
51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
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.”
What are the similarities?
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
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.”
Each one of the Gospels AND Acts gives an account of a commission (instruction, command) that is given. Matthew says “Go”. Mark says “Go”. Luke says “Proclaimed”, John uses “Send”, Acts (Luke again) solidifies by saying “Witness”. In my mind, these four commands given instruct on the same thing - we are to go, be sent, and proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to a lost and dying world.
Who is this command given to?
The Great Commission is given to each believer - it’s instructions given to the Christian as to what their duty is until Christ’s return. Now, when I was a teenager I would have a list of chores that was expected to be done on the farm.
What are the differences?
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
Mark 16:14 (ESV)
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table,
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Truly, the only differences are the location documented. However, in each account the disciples are gathered together, Jesus appears to them, and a similar task is given.
Coming Together
Coming Together
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
What did the apostles misunderstand? (1:6)
The word “SO” connects the previous verses with these verses. In the disciples’ minds the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the coming of the promised kingdom were closely associated. And it would be easy to understand why, because the Old Testament frequently joined the two together. The word used for restore is the concept of regenerating the kingdom of Israel. When Christ told the disciples of the soon-coming Spirit baptism, they immediately concluded that the restoration of Israel’s kingdom was near in time.
Clarification
Clarification
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.”
While the disciples thought of an imminent restoration, Jesus reminds them that time a future date only known by the Father. He then gives an indication they would not be left alone, that there would be an outpouring/filling of the Holy Spirit that will come upon them in the near future. So, did the Holy Spirit exist at this time? Next question would be, did He reside within the believer at that particular moment?
If we look back at the OT, where did God reside among His people? In what form? The Shekinah Glory of God is literally the dwelling presence of God. So, IS there a similar link between the Shekinah Glory and the image we receive of the Holy Spirit? What might be the difference? The place in which they were dwelling. Shekinah Glory - temple (physical Holy of Holies). Holy Spirit - temple (mankind).
What task did Jesus assign the apostles? (1:8)
Instead of knowing the times or dates, the apostles were to simply be a witness to the “end of the earth”. As long as God gave them breath, they were to be a witness - what is a witness? Someone who SEES something take place. So how are we to be a witness today?
Who would help the apostles get their job done? (1:8)
They could only accomplish this task through the power given by the Holy Spirit. We as humans are weak, we are wavering, we can fail, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we can accomplish the task given to us by God.
Ascension
Ascension
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.”
After speaking to the apostles, Jesus ascended into heaven on a cloud. Now, I don’t know about you but over the past 40 days the remaining apostles had gone through a whirlwind of things that would make any sane person shake their head in disbelief. They witnessed the crucifixion. They witnessed Jesus die. He appeared to them after the resurrection. Now, they see Him ascend to heaven on a cloud. I can only imagine that when they were watching all this take place, they were standing and staring in complete amazement.
Still trying to figure out WHAT JUST HAPPENED. Did you see that? Jesus was just here with us, and now He’s gone. Okay, is He coming back? Are we going to see Him again? Where did He go? Did we REALLY just see that?
Who were the figures in white? (1:10)
Thankfully, just as with the resurrection God sent two men in white robes to be with them. Now, how would we react if we just saw Jesus ascend and then turned around and saw these two angels standing among us? I think WE might jump out of our skins, but these men of God recognized who they were and were willing to receive the encouragement from them. Why are you still standing here...
If we think back to the man healed of leprosy, he was even told not to tell anyone of what happened but couldn’t control himself and went proclaiming what Jesus had done in His life. Now…the apostles are not told to be quiet, but to go and tell and they’re standing there wide eyed and open mouthed. I think we can all relate.
How will Jesus’ return be like His ascension? (1:11)
The angels also give us an insight that Jesus’ return will be like His ascension - He is going to return on a cloud. And what will be His task? To usher the believers home.
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
And guess what.... we will be just as amazed to witness His return as the apostles were to witness His ascension.