In the midst of breakfast that Jesus made for the disciples, he turned to Peter using his original name Simon asking him, “Do you have divine love for me?” Peter replied, “I have brotherly love for you Lord.” Jesus asked again, “Do you have divine love for me?” Failing to get the answer that Jesus hope for, he asked, “Do you even have brotherly love for me?” By the time they reached Jesus’ third question, Peter became somewhat irritated and said, “Lord you know I have brotherly love for you.” Perhaps Peter did not get the depth of the question or the significance of the question, but he missed the point entirely. Jesus looked ahead knowing that Peter and to what length he was willing to go in service of Christ.
Jesus met with over 500 people later. These were members of the rank-and-file of his followers. He assigned all believers of all time the task of world evangelism. He issued his marching orders to them by saying, “Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” ( Matthew 28) This is a commission that would engulf you and me. The message he provided them was glad tidings that would change the world. We know this is true because you and I in our modern era are the spiritual descendants of those who obeyed his command.
One more time Jesus appeared to his disciples. This included James who was his half-brother who became a Christian after the resurrection of Christ. Jesus instructed the 11 disciples, Judas having committed suicide, to wait in Jerusalem. Between his resurrection and his ascension on the Mount of olives was a short 40 days. Jesus taught the disciples a more in depth understanding of the Old Testament. In reading the New Testament we can see how the writers repeated what they hear from Jesus.
Recall what Jesus said before all of this persecution began that he would build his church. This church did not come into being later but that the fact Jesus had already begun to build it by gathering people together who were believers. (1 Corinthians 6:19) With his soon departure, he knew that his church would need to have divine power, guidance, and inspiration. As evidenced by the fact that throughout his ministry people came to know Jesus as the spiritual building blocks of his church. Since then, into this day, those who accept Christ as their Savior come into the spiritual livelihood and infilling of the Holy Spirit as additional spiritual building blocks of a growing church throughout the ages. When a person becomes a Christian, as part of that church, they come into the infilling of the Holy Spirit into their lives. 1900 years later a preacher declared the proof of a person’s salvation was that for as proof of salvation. The Bible teaches that as believers in Christ our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The ascension of Christ took place on the Mount of Olives. He blessed the disciples and suddenly while they were looking steadfastly at him, his feet no longer touched the ground. They were amazed wandering as he floated up until the cloud enveloped him. They stood mesmerized. Two angels appeared and said to them, “You men of Galilee, why stand you looking into heaven? This Jesus, which was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you beheld him going into heaven.” Their loss of Jesus going to the Heavenly Father, was replaced with gladness as they returned to Jerusalem in obedience to his instructions, The Bible said that Jesus ascended to the right hand of God to make intercession for all of us in compliance with the statement he made being that he is the only intercessor between man and God. (1 Timothy 2:5) Ten days later they would experience the infilling of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost and later go forth to preach everywhere. It began with Jerusalem. Then branched out further and further eventually to the rest of the known world. The resurrection and ascension of Jesus is the keynote of Christianity throughout the ages. In the meantime, we wait for his return, not as a poor infant baby in a manger, but as the conquering King.
Christian Writer 