THE END OF THE BEGINNING October 21, 2012

Mark 16:19&20 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.

Luke 24:50-53 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

Near Bethany today

Acts 1:1-11 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. 11 They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

The Final Days (vs. 1-5) These were days of beginnings. (vs. 1&2) These were days of beginnings. (vs. 1&2) His ministry had been two-fold: doing and teaching. (Acts 1:1)His ministry had been two-fold: doing and teaching. (Acts 1:1) Matthew 4:23— “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.”Matthew 4:23— “Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.” Matthew 9:35- “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”Matthew 9:35- “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”

Now, as He is departing, Jesus commissions His disciples to do the same Now, as He is departing, Jesus commissions His disciples to do the same Note the report they gave at the end of the “limited” commission: “all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.” (Mark 6:30)Note the report they gave at the end of the “limited” commission: “all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.” (Mark 6:30) Also, at the judgment, we will report on all that we have done (Revelation 20:12), and all we have taught (James 3:1).Also, at the judgment, we will report on all that we have done (Revelation 20:12), and all we have taught (James 3:1).

These were days of proving. (vs. 3) These were days of proving. (vs. 3) The disciples hope had faded when he died. (Luke 24:20&21)The disciples hope had faded when he died. (Luke 24:20&21) His appearances to them were “infallible” proofsHis appearances to them were “infallible” proofs They could actually even touch Him! (John 20:19-29)They could actually even touch Him! (John 20:19-29)

These were days of instructing. (vs. 4&5) These were days of instructing. (vs. 4&5) He told them what not to do—don’t leave JerusalemHe told them what not to do—don’t leave Jerusalem He told them what to do—to waitHe told them what to do—to wait He gave them a promise.He gave them a promise. Like with us: some things he forbids; some things he commands; but all are backed with precious promises! Like with us: some things he forbids; some things he commands; but all are backed with precious promises!

The Final Words (vs. 6-8) Words of correction: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” Words of correction: “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority” Words of encouragement: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” Words of encouragement: “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” Words of instruction: “you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Words of instruction: “you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

The Final Moment (vs. 9-11) The need for this “final” event: The need for this “final” event: What would it be like if these forty days of appearances continued on and on?What would it be like if these forty days of appearances continued on and on? Many questions would arise if these appearances just “faded out”: He arrived in a moment of time-He must leave in a moment of time.Many questions would arise if these appearances just “faded out”: He arrived in a moment of time-He must leave in a moment of time. Though they saw Him depart, still they rejoiced in knowing that He would be with them always, even to the end of the world. Matthew 28:20.Though they saw Him depart, still they rejoiced in knowing that He would be with them always, even to the end of the world. Matthew 28:20.

The power of His departure The power of His departure It impressed upon the disciples that He would come again.It impressed upon the disciples that He would come again. They talked and preached about this constantly (I Thess. 4:13ff)They talked and preached about this constantly (I Thess. 4:13ff) They looked for Him continually (Phil. 3:20)They looked for Him continually (Phil. 3:20)

“Why do you stand looking into the sky?” God had promised a Messiah would come. It took centuries, but He came! God had promised a Messiah would come. It took centuries, but He came! God promised a coming kingdom. It required many years of waiting, but it is here! God promised a coming kingdom. It required many years of waiting, but it is here! God promised Jesus would come again. SOMEDAY HE WILL!!!!!!! God promised Jesus would come again. SOMEDAY HE WILL!!!!!!!