Jn 20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. Mk16:12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. – Note this is the story which is a large part of the ending of Luke’s gospel.
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken 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 message by accompanying signs. Matt 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of 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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Comment: Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day Jesus ascended into heaven. Many very significant things in the Bible are related to the 40 day concept. – 40 days wait at Mt Sinai before receiving the Torah; Jesus was tested in the desert for 40 days; It lies in the countdown time to the Feast of First fruits (this falls at the time of Christian Pentecost). Many Christians see Pentecost with the Holy Spirit’s coming being the era when Jesus’ work began to see the first fruits of His coming/dying/rising/ascending and the Holy Spirit coming to indwell all true believers! Jesus sat at the right hand of the Father when He ascended as our High Priest and Advocate. Today I have quoted a lot of what the Bible says that Jesus did and with whom He met between his Resurrection and Ascension! Please look back at the readings and consider the things printed in green and underlined. There are oodles of sermons underlined above, but I trust you to think deeply. All of these could perhaps be summed up in two words – believe and obey!
Jn 14: 15-17 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth.”
Prayer: Are you saying to me, Lord Jesus, ‘Work, for the night is coming: Work through the morning hours; Work while the dew is sparkling: Work mid springing flowers; Work when the day grows brighter.’ I know that I don’t work for forgiveness but is this You calling me to service?
As I read it! 