Witness God

The Book of Luke was written about the beginning of Jesus ministry with the Holy Spirit.

The Book of Acts was written about the Acts of the Spirit among the church.

The Ascension, not the Resurrection, was the turning point between Luke & Acts.

Jesus had to leave them

They weren’t prepared for Jesus’ death; they wouldn’t be prepared for his Ascension (leaving again) either.

They wondered why

If Jesus could be resurrected, why couldn’t he restore the kingdom of Israel?

This wasn’t about re-establishing Israel

His mission was to usher in the kingdom of God

To give good news to the poor, free the captives, sight for the blind, and restore all Creation to the Lord’s favor. - Luke 4:18-19

If he did as his disciples hoped, he would not be living by the will of the Father, but just as any other human with their own plans and ambitions.

If Jesus was only resurrected, would we [Gentiles] even believe today?

How could a God who claims to love everyone only claim one nation for blessing?

Without the Ascension, the Resurrection would have been incomplete.

Christ had not yet ascended to take his place of authority and as advocate to the Father, as he promised.

Why would Jesus leave?

We may think that being with Jesus, in a new body, living in a new heaven and Earth, would be better.

We may think that it would have been better had he not died in the first place, much less leave us.

Who doesn’t think that it would be better with Christ being near to us?

We are left with having to believe in invisible God.

But Jesus did not leave us with nothing, Jesus freed us so that we might live by the Spirit.

Jesus clarified his teaching in light of his Resurrection.

Everything would different, though Jesus was the same.

He appeared, gave instructions, and ate with them.

Jesus reminded them of a promise God made long ago.

Joel 2:28–29 NIV

28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

And everyone that would call on his name would be saved. – Vs. 32

The Spirit would be sent as a gift to his disciples.

Jesus told his disciples the same Spirit that resurrected him would be given to them.

After giving his promise, Jesus Ascended while his disciples watched.

As Jesus ascended, the angels suggest/ask why they are still gazing up into the sky.

Jesus will return one day, when the Father appoints it.

Until then, the church would need to live on

this is best done with an abundance of witnesses.

Peter bore witness to what Jesus did among them.

Even the one who betrayed Jesus; Judas, fulfilled prophecy.

For the church to continue as designed, they would need to choose someone who was an eyewitness to Jesus. This is what qualified an Apostle.

But, they didn’t just take a vote. They cast lots as a way of letting God decide between two qualified candidates.

Matthias was chosen, and they were 12 again.

Paul bore witness to God who revealed his mission to the Gentiles. – Eph. 1

Paul prayed that the Ephesian’s hearts would be enlightened by the Spirit as Jesus enlightened his disciples to receive understanding about the Resurrection & Ascension.

Resurrection & Ascension point to Christ’s future return, which gives them hope.

Paul calls the people of God, the riches of his inheritance, his holy people.

The power that was given to Christ in Resurrection is present through this inheritance.

And Christ has authority over everything.

Yet, it is through the church that the reign of Christ is best known until he returns.

The gift of the Spirit was not given to keep for themselves, the Spirit was given so they could share with others about what they were witness to.

We, the church, are not to keep God to ourselves, we are to give God away, as a gift.

God gifts to us his promises and then makes them happen for us.

The people of God witness to God who keeps promises:

To save us by his grace through faith

To make us his people

To purify us from all sin

To gift us his Spirit

So that, we can love as he loves; that they might see God in us.

How we live our lives and what we say bear witness to God who came as one of us, and gave all advantages away, so that all might have a way to be made whole again.