Acts 1 - After the Resurrection

After the Resurrection

Scripture Passage: Acts 1:1-11
We recently celebrated Easter – remembering the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Praise God that Jesus lives! Because He died for our sins and yet rose from the grave, we have hope for today, tomorrow, and forever.
What then? What happened after the resurrection of Jesus? What did He do after He had accomplished His mission “to seek and to save” (Luke 19:10, NIV) people?
After His resurrection, Jesus gave to His apostles the four things they needed to be His witnesses on this Earth:

Conclusive proof that He is alive

The Holy Spirit

The Great Commission

The blessed hope of His return.

Let us realize this one most important thing. We are not here for ourselves. We are not here for our jobs. We are not here for school. We are not here even for our families and friends. We are here in this world for Jesus Christ -- crucified and risen from the dead!
Main Point: With the certainty that Jesus is risen from the dead, we have all the things we need to be His witnesses until He comes again.

1. Jesus gave conclusive proof to motivate our witness.

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3, NIV)
Jesus had suffered the most painful death imaginable on a cross. His dead body was laid in a grave. How could a dead man rise up and walk? Who ever heard of a man rising from the dead? It is an incredible thought. From our point of view, it is impossible.
The glorious resurrection occurred on the third day. Jesus was dead and became alive again. It is an incredible statement to believe. Jesus knew this. That is why He stayed on this Earth for "over a period of forty days" (Acts 1:3, NIV). He knew that we might doubt that a man could rise from the dead. So He gave us proof that He was alive.
Jesus appeared in a physical body, eating and drinking with His disciples.

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. (Luke 24:36-43, NIV)

Jesus appeared to His disciples with the scars from His death on the cross.

24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29, NIV)

Jesus performed miracles just as He had done before His death on the cross.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. 7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” ... 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. (John 21:4-7,14, NIV)

The Bible says that Jesus stayed on the Earth for over one month. While He was here, He gave many convincing proofs that He was alive (Acts 1:3). Jesus left no doubt to His disciples that it was really Him. Jesus Christ had risen from the dead.
This proof should motivate you to be a witness for Jesus Christ. By rising from the dead, Jesus proved that He is the LORD. He proved that He has the authority to forgive sins. He proved that He has the power of life itself.
Have you put your trust in the LORD Jesus Christ? If you believe in Jesus Christ who died for your sins and rose from the dead, you will be granted eternal life. That is Jesus' promise to you.
Having become a believer, you now have the proof you need to be a witness for Jesus Christ. The many convincing proofs He gave should motivate you to live for Christ. After the disciples saw the risen Jesus Christ in the flesh, "Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God" (Luke 24:52-53, NIV). What joy there is to know we serve a risen Savior -- Jesus is alive!

2. Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to empower our witness.

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5, NIV)
The Jewish leaders were still persecuting the followers of Jesus. The Bible says in John 20:19 that the disciples were meeting together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. The disciples were afraid and weak. How could they go out and change the world for Christ? Jesus knew they were unable to be witnesses without His help. So He told them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). As a result, the disciples became bold in their witness for Christ. Even when witnessing brought them persecution, the disciples were bold in speaking about Jesus:

Peter had denied he even knew Jesus three times. But with the Holy Spirit preached a sermon to thousands of people in Jerusalem. And three thousand heard the gospel and believed in the LORD Jesus Christ!

Thomas was a man who doubted Jesus was alive. After he saw the risen Christ and received the Holy Spirit, he proclaimed the wonderful works of God to thousands (Acts 2:11).

All of the twelve apostles were eventually executed for their faith: by the sword, by the cross, or by other violent means. None of them renounced faith in the risen Christ. Not a single one!

Since the Day of Pentecost, every person who trusts in the LORD Jesus Christ as Savior receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells within you the moment you hear and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Jesus gives you the Holy Spirit to empower and equip you to be His witness. The Bible says that each day, you need to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18, NKJV). This means you must submit your life to the control of God the Holy Spirit.
A simple prayer to start your day might be: “LORD Jesus, I believe in the Holy Spirit. Fill me with your Spirit. Grant me the power to walk with Christ today.” The LORD will certainly answer this prayer each day!

3. Jesus gave the Great Commission to focus our witness.

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8, NIV)
When Jesus comes again, He will indeed restore the kindom to Israel. He will bring peace and justice for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4). Jesus will rule the Earth from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3-4). That is God’s promise to Israel that He will fulfill one day.
Jesus told His disciples that, until then, “you will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8, NKJV). To be His witness requires the power only available from the Holy Spirit. Take note of this verse: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” The power of the Holy Spirit to be His witness is promised by Jesus Christ Himself!
You and I simply have no limitations on what we can do as witnesses for Christ. We have the resurrection power – the power of God – to be His witness for Christ. There are no excuses for any Christian. In Christ, you have the power of God the Holy Spirit.
Jesus helped the disciples to focus their work of witnessing. He said in Acts 1:8 to:

Start in Jerusalem (the area where they lived).

Go then to Judea (the surrounding area local to the city).

Go on to Samaria (an area further away where the people were different than the Jews, even a group of people the Jews hated).

Keep going to the ends of the Earth (through missions work reach around the world to all nations).

Our strategy for witnessing should be focused by this great commission also. Start in this area where your church is located. Witness with your good works and witness with your lips. Make the name of Jesus Christ and His gospel known to the people nearby – and invite them to your church.
Then go to a larger area little by little to share the gospel and invite people to church. Also, support missions work beyond this area to help others who go out in the name of Christ. Make it your goal to keep expanding your reach!

4. Jesus gave the blessed hope of His return to sustain our witness.

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11, NIV)
How do we continue the task of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ? Many people do not want to hear about the LORD Jesus Christ. After all, it has been 2,000 years since His resurrection from the dead.
We continue because we have the blessed hope of His return! Jesus is coming again! Jesus ascended from the Earth to the sky and was surrounded by clouds. The disciples were so amazed they just stood there looking up. So God sent two angels to remind them that Jesus was coming back. “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back” (Acts 1:11, NKJV). We have the absolute certainty the Jesus Christ is coming again.
This certainty is what sustains our work here. This blessed hope is what keeps us going. We know that our work is not in vain.
We also want to be working for our LORD Jesus Christ when He returns. Jesus once asked an important question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8, NKJV). I hope He finds evidence of my faith and of yours also. Jesus also told this parable about His imminent return:
37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Luke 12:37-40, NKJV).
If you get tired or discouraged trying to witness for Christ, look up. Jesus will return one day. It could happen at any time. That is why we need to be working and watching for His return. Even if the day is cloudy, look up. Acts 1:11 says that Jesus will return with the clouds of Heaven. If it is a cloudy day, it could be THE day that Jesus returns!

Conclusion:
After the resurrection, Jesus offered many convincing proofs. Our witness for Christ begins with the reality that Jesus Christ is alive. Who could serve a dead man who lied about coming back to life in three days? No one could. But Jesus gave proof that He did rise from the dead.
Now we have the motivation and the power to live as Christ commanded us. We have the motivation and the power to tell as many people as we can about Jesus Christ our LORD and Savior.
If you are trusting in the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior, then be His witness:

Learn to share your faith – the gospel of Jesus Christ – with others.

Be passionate about your love for Jesus

If you have never put your trust in Jesus Christ as LORD and Savior, then I appeal to you to do so right now:
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31, NIV).
The gospel is simple enough for even a child to understand:

God loves you so incredibly much! (“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” [John 3:16, NIV])

You are a sinner separated from God’s love (“There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” [Romans 3:22b-23, NIV])

Jesus is God’s Son who died to pay the penalty for your sins ("For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God” [1 Peter 3:18, NIV])

Jesus rose from the grave proving He is both LORD and Savior ("God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact … God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" [Acts 2:32,36, NIV])

If you turn from your sin and entrust your life to the LORD Jesus Christ, He will forgive you and give you eternal life (“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved … Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9,13, NIV])

By believing in Christ, you have eternal life – and you can start looking up with joy for the soon return of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ!
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Copyright 4/13/2002, Randy Lariscy.