John 20:21 The time from Resurrection Sunday until the ascension of Jesus: there is an issue with working through the meaning and reality of the resurrection. It is also a time for Jesus to focus on the next steps. What would you do? Go over theology? Look at the virtues of living? What would be your final words?
Our focus in the next few weeks will be to examine Jesus’ strategy, his purpose and plan for the greatest movement in history.
The commission in Luke 24 focused on the finished and the unfinished work of Christ.
In John the commission focuses on the methodology of our commission: if we want to know how Jesus sends us to a lost and dying world, then we need to know how the Father sent Jesus. That is why the focus in Luke is on remembering what Jesus said and how to interpret the scriptures!
“Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,”
Luke 24:44-45 NASB2020
““Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”
Matthew 5:17
The framework for our mission is contained in the Word of God.
The need to imitate Jesus: Going in power, Praying, Healing, Proclaiming, and Training
Supporting verses:
“for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”
1 Thessalonians 1:5-7 NASB2020
“And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is served to you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
Luke 10:2, 8-9 NASB2020
“And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.”
Mark 1:35 NASB2020
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him.”
John 3:17 NASB2020