After the great the commission - witnesses

After the great commission, Luke records that for forty days Jesus showed Himself alive to His apostles and spoke to them about the kingdom of God.

"To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion [crucifixion] by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" - Acts 1:3 KJV

Jesus did His part: Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again. Then for forty days He witnessed of His resurrection and talked about the kingdom of God. (1Corinthians 15:3-7, Acts 1:3).

Now we do our part: we repented of our sins, were baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and received the gift of His Spirit. (Acts 2:38). This is our testimony. Now we witness of our new life in Jesus and we talk about the kingdom of God. (John 3:5).

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." - John 20:21 KJV

"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." - Acts 1:8 KJV

We are witnesses to the world of what Jesus has done and by the word of our testimony, and then finally at the end, this is how we defeat the devil.

We overcome the accuser of our brethren (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb – His death, burial, and resurrection – and by the word of our testimony – our repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and our infilling of the Holy Ghost.

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." - Revelation 12:11 KJV

On Resurrection Sunday Jesus Gave His Great Commission

 According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the same day that Jesus was resurrected He gave His disciples His “great commission.” (Matthew 28:5-20, Mark 16:9-18, Luke 23:55-56, 24:1-49, John 20:1-23).

The “great commission” in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all contain the essential elements that were found on the Day of Pentecost when the church first began. (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:46-49, John 20:21-23).

In His great commission, Jesus told His disciples to Go, baptize, and He would fill with His Spirit.

Go: Matthew and Luke - going to “all nations,” Mark - “to all the world and to every creature,” John - “send I you.” Baptize: Matthew, Mark, and Luke - His “name,” Luke - “remission of sins,” John - “sins ye remit,” Mark - “saved.” His Spirit: Matthew - “I am with you always,” Mark - “new tongues,” Luke - “the promise of my Father” and “power from on high,” John - “the Holy Ghost.”

On the Day of Pentecost, the great commission was explicitly revealed by Peter, while the rest of the apostles stood with him. It was Peter that Jesus gave the keys to the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 16:19, Acts 2:14).

When Jesus poured out His Spirit on all His followers on the Day of Pentecost, they spoke in tongues. (Acts 2:4). When all the people that were gathered for Pentecost that were from all nations heard their own languages being spoken by the believers from the upper room, they asked, What meaneth this?

Peter told the people that this was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel (Acts 2:16-18). He then preached the gospel to them. (Acts 2:22-36).

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

Peter obeyed Jesus and the “great commission.” 

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." - Acts 2:41-42 KJV

This was only the beginning. Believers are obedient to Jesus and preaching the gospel today.

"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." - Acts 1:8 KJV

Acts 2:38

 

He is Risen! Resurrection Sunday

 On Sunday, the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went early in the morning to see the tomb. There was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord had come, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. (Matthew 28:1-4).

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

“And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

“And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word." - Matthew 28:5-8

The good news is not only that Jesus died for our sins, but that He rose again!

"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." - Revelation 1:18

This is the message that we are to tell the world - Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and on the third day rose again. This is the gospel message.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

When we repent of our sins, are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:4), we have the same power over death and the grave by His Spirit dwelling in us.

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." - Romans 8:11

Jesus spoke to His disciples,

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." - Mark 16:15

Jesus is risen!

And there came also Nicodemus - the Burial

 They had stood at the cross, watching the Lord suffer the painful death of crucifixion. This was after Jesus suffered the merciless half-death of Roman scourging and the cruel mocking and torment.

Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man and a disciple of Jesus, pleaded Pilate for the body of Jesus so that he could lay it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of a rock.

"And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus." - John 19:38 KJV (See also: Matthew 27:57-60, Mark 15:42-46, Luke 23:50-56).

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, brought myrrh and aloes for His burial. This is whom Jesus told we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5). Jesus also that same night told Nicodemus of His death.

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." - John 3:14-15 KJV

The message Jesus gave to Nicodemus that night was the gospel message. Jesus told him He would die so that the world could be saved. When Jesus told Nicodemus that the Son of man would be “lifted up,” Jesus was speaking of the death of His human flesh on the cross. The Spirit of God WITHIN the “Son of man” lives forever. This same Spirit within His human flesh would raise Him from the dead. (See Romans 8:1-11, Acts 2:38-39).

"And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." - John 19:39-40 KJV

An observation was made about the hundred pound weight of myrrh and aloes that Nicodemus brought to embalm Jesus’ body: "The quantity of the balm is extraordinary and exceeds all normal proportions. This is a royal burial."

When Jesus was yet a young child, wise men came to worship “He that is born King of the Jews.” One of the gifts that the wise men presented to Jesus was myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-2, 11). Myrrh is burned as incense and used in perfume. It was also used for embalming the dead.

How fitting the gift of myrrh: Jesus was born King of the Jews, born to die for the sin of the world. Just as the wise men offered Jesus the gift of myrrh at Jesus birth, Nicodemus also offered the gift of myrrh at Jesus death, making sure Jesus had the burial of a King.

The Suffering and Death of Jesus

 The night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus’ disciples followed Him to the garden of Gethsemane. ‘Gethsemane’ means, “an oil press.” There Jesus prayed with intensity, committing His flesh to be the sacrifice that would satisfy the death requirement for our sins.

From there, after accepting the cup of suffering, Jesus was betrayed and taken by the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders to the high priest’s house where He was mocked and smitten. (Luke 22:54, 63-65).

Then they led him to Pilate, who sent Jesus to Herod. After Herod also mocked Him, he sent Jesus back to Pilate (Luke 23:11). Pilate said he found no fault in Jesus of the things He was accused. (Luke 23:14).

“I will therefore chastise him, and release him.” - Luke 23:16

The Romans had no legal limit as to how many lashes they could administer. Only the Jews were limited by God’s commandment to 40 stripes. (Deuteronomy 25:3).

Pilate turned Jesus over to receive the Roman whipping that was called the “half way death.” This whipping shredded the back during which there was so much blood loss, the victim was left half way dead. (Isaiah 50:6, Isaiah 53:5).

It is said it was not usually done that a person would suffer both the whipping of the half way death as well as crucifixion. Pilate, intending to release Jesus, had Him scourged, thinking this would surely satisfy the Jews. (John 19:1-16).

“But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.” - Luke 23:21

Because Jesus would become cursed for us, it was necessary that He also be crucified, hanging on a tree. (The cross was fashioned from a tree).

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” - Galatians 3:13 (Deuteronomy 21:23, 1Peter 2:24).

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” - Luke 23:33

“Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.” - John 19:29

Jesus was crucified at the time of Passover. In Egypt during the time of Moses, when the Israelites were enslaved, the Passover lamb was sacrificed and its blood applied to the house to save them from the final plague. (Exodus 12:12-13).

The Bible calls Jesus our Passover Lamb (1Corinthians 5:7). We too are saved when we apply His blood to ‘our house’ when we are baptized in Jesus name.

Not a bone was to be broken of the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:46). While the legs of thieves on the other crosses had their legs broken, because Jesus was already dead, His bones were not broken (John 19:36).

It appears that the Passover lamb was slain the same hour that Jesus died on the cross.

The Passover supper was eaten with bitter herbs (some dip them in vinegar) along with the lamb to remind them of their bitter bondage in Egypt (Exodus 12:8).

Jesus ended our bitter bondage to sin and death when He died on the cross. (Hebrews 2:14-15).

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” - John 19:30

The bondage to sin and death is finished for us when we apply Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection to our own life. When we repent of our sin, are baptized in Jesus name for the remission of our sins and receive the gift of His Holy Ghost, we are set free from sin and death.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." - Acts 2:38-39

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them

After Jesus had His last supper with His disciples, before His death, burial, and resurrection,

"He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself." - John 13:4 KJV

"After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded." - John 13:5 KJV

"Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit..." - John 13:8-10 KJV

"So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?" - John 13:12 KJV

"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." - John 13:13-15 KJV

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." - John 13:16-17 KJV