03-31-2024 Easter Sunday: The Greatest Proof of All

Text: Acts 1:6-14

                             Happy Easter! Christ Jesus is Risen Indeed!  Christians around the world know this to be true and understand that He is the source of our eternal salvation.  But even today, there are still many who question the resurrection.  They may believe that He died on the cross but ask did He actually rise?  If the answer is "No," there is no reason for anyone to look forward to eternity in Heaven or seeing loved ones again.  But if the answer is "Yes," this is the happiest day of the year for we celebrate the event that secures our future. 

                             You and I were not at the garden tomb that first Easter morning, but we do have proof that He rose from the dead.  The tomb that was sealed and guarded was found empty.  After the resurrection, there were many eyewitnesses that saw Jesus, talked with Him, touched Him, and ate with Him.  More than 2,000 years later, His church still exists.  And think about how many lives have been changed over these years because of Him. We have so much to rejoice about on this day.

                             Our text this morning comes from Acts 1:6-14 where Luke wrote:  " (6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying:  Lord, will You at this time restore again the Kingdom of Israel? (7) And He said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His Own power.  (8) But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (9) And when He had spoken these things while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  (10) And while they looked steadfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) which also said, You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into Heaven.  (12) Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath Day's journey [about half a mile].  (13) And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas, the brother of James.  (14) These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with His Brethren."

                             After the ascension, there was an  an immediate change in the Disciples.  When Jesus called them, their life goals were temporal, or temporary and worldly.  They wanted success in their fishing or other vocations they had.  They wanted whatever they could get from this world's could provide.  And when they met Jesus, they expected Him to take them out from under Roman rule and be Israel's King.  We learn in Mark 10:37 that two of them wanted to sit on either side of Him on His throne.  But after the resurrection, being able to spend time with Him and finally witnessing His return to Heaven, they finally understood God's plan and their life's goals were immediately changed.  They became willing witnesses and wanted to fulfill the great commission given to them by Jesus as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20 just prior to His assentation. He told them:  " (19) Go ye therefore , and teach 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 things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." 

                             The Disciples took this charge to heart and that enabled them to take the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to the entire world.  They wanted to represent Christ to all those who are lost and troubled.  Being in this place today, we are living proof of the success of their work. 

                             The Disciples' anticipation for the future also changed because of the resurrection.  They now knew that Jesus was not going to take them away from Roman rule, but they understood that He would one day return to establish His earthly kingdom.  Until that time, they were to be about His business to winning as many as possible to Him while they had the time, and while doing their best to live holy lives.  

                             Our text also shows us in verses 12-14 that their attitudes toward each other also changed because of the resurrection.  Like us, they had their failures:  Judas betrayed Him, Peter denied Him, and Thomas doubted Him.  But now, they worked together in fulfilling their mission.  They loved and forgave one another, and they changed the world.  And here is something else:  When the Disciples went to the upper room after the ascension, the half-brothers of Jesus joined with them.  During Jesus' life on earth, they refused to believe He was the promised Messiah, but His resurrection finally convinced them.  Jesus' appearance to his brother James, recorded by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:7, was an especially significant event in his conversion.  James went on to become a leader of the church in Jerusalem as shown to us in Acts 15:13, and he is the author of the New Testament Book of James.

                             Just as Jesus commissioned His Disciples, He continues to commission all Christians today.  We are to tell others what we have experienced from Jesus; helping them to understand who Jesus is, what He has done, and inviting them to experience Him as their personal Savior.  Like those men of old, we have a duty to share the message of Jesus today.  How do we do this?  With the powers given to all believers by the Holy Spirit which include courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority.  If you believe in Jesus, you have the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.  Ask God to help you use these gifts in order to bring others to Christ.  Take time to think about how your life has changed since you allowed Jesus to come into your heart, be part of our daily life.  Take note of the changes He has made and continues to make in you every day.  Then share all that with others so they too can experience the joy and peace that only He brings, especially in times of difficulty and uncertainty. 

                             This is how we do what John tells us in 1 John 2:28 when he wrote:  "And now, little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."  On that wonderful day when we meet our Jesus face to face, we won't be ashamed when we stand before Him.

                             Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Because of this, we have reason to live with the promise of eternal life with Him.  In spite of all of the darkness in the world today, we can rest peacefully on this promise because the One responsible for our eternal life is alive, watching over us, loving us, guiding us, and carrying us through the disappointments, heartaches, and heartbreaks of this life until the day He calls us to be with Him.  Do not be ashamed of Him.  Have the courage to share Him so others can experience His help, love, joy, and peace in their lives.  Have a blessed joyous Easter.

                             Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.