Commissioned with Promise Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11

This upcoming Thursday May 30, 2019 marks the day that Jesus ascends into heaven. It is forty days after His resurrection. When Jesus departs from His disciples He leaves them with a commission and a promise. All four gospel writers give us their version of Jesus commission to the disciples and a promise to return at the end of the age. All of the authors give a different account because they want to emphasize different points to the audience that they are writing to.

Matthew writes to a Jewish audience (Matt. 28:16-20). He wants the Jews to know that the Messiah is not exclusively for the Jews. No, Jesus fulfills the promise God made to Abraham. “‘In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice’” (Gen. 22:18, NASB). Thus, the gospel and salvation is available to all people regardless of any human status.

Mark writes to a mixed audience of Jews and Gentiles. Mark moves through the life of Jesus in a hurry. Mark wants to get His audience to the cross. It is at the cross that Jesus pays the sin debt of all people. The only requirement for salvation is that one believe the gospel (Mark 16:14-20).

Luke writes to a Gentile audience. Luke, while he mentions the Law and customs of the Jews, his emphasis is on the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives witness to what is written in the Scriptures about the Messiah (Lk. 24:44-53).

John writes his gospel at a time of several competing philosophies. John wants to convince his audience that Jesus is the Son of God. “But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name’ (JN. 20:31, NASB). John writes about Jesus’ commission and promise in John 14:1-6. Further details about their commission are given in chapters 14-16. In this article we will utilize Luke’s account in Acts 1:1-11 because it gives an account of the last meeting between Jesus and His disciples as He is taken up into heaven.

The activities of Jesus between His resurrection and His ascension are not described in much detail in the gospels. As we can see from the writer’s accounts, the emphases are on the work that Jesus gives His disciples to do until He returns. In his gospel Luke records that Jesus eats with His disciples and gives them a commission and a promise. The commission is “that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are witness of these things (Lk. 24:47-48, NASB). They will receive power by the Holy Spirit. “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Lk. 24:49, NASB).

When Luke writes his follow up letter to Theophilus, he basically begins where his gospel ends. “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; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4-5, NASB). Jesus wants His apostles to be fully prepared and equipped before they take on the task of being His witnesses. They will begin in familiar territory among people whose religion, culture, and lifestyle is similar to that of their own. They will advance to Judea then to Samaria, and finally to the utmost parts of the earth. They will encounter people that have little if anything that they share in common; especially in terms of religion, culture, and lifestyle. In many of the places that they will go they will be met with hostilities and even threat to their lives both in their own communities (Acts 12:1-2), and in the Gentile world (Acts 16:16-24).

Now, this brings me to one of my complaints about how many churches call and commission workers in the church. I have heard it said too often that the Lord can use anybody. He calls ordinary people. Although this is true, we should not ignore the fact that the Lord calls people that He has been preparing all of their life. For example, Paul is an educated scholar of the Law and the Scriptures. His mind is not cluttered up with a whole lot of Greek philosophy. He lives the life of a Pharisees, a sect of Judaism that follows strictly the Law Paul does not understand the Law correctly until He meets Jesus and received the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:1-31). After God calls Paul and empowers him with the Holy Spirit, Paul uses his knowledge of the scriptures to convince Jews and Gentiles to be saved. What’s the point? Churches should not settle for unprepared workers simply because they are willing volunteers. Instead, churches should examine works to ensure that they are well prepared in knowledge of the work that they are being called to do. There should be some evidence that indicate that they are following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus begins His ministry He is followed by many disciples; that is there are many people following Him. They have their own personal reasons for following Jesus. Some are glad to hear the words that He speaks because Jesus gives them hope while the religious leaders, the scribes and the Pharisees have written them off as sinners unworthy to be included among those that they believe to be accepted by God. Luke writes, “Now the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, ‘this man receives sinners and eats with them” (Lk. 15:1-2, NASB). Some follow Jesus because they get excited when they see Jesus perform His miracle on the sick (Jn. 6:2). In like manner, people come to the church with their own personal agendas. It is the responsibility of the church to stand firm in its duty to preach the gospel so that people might be saved. The church is to make disciples of Jesus by teaching people to observe all that Jesus commands (Matt. 28: 19-20).

Now we will turn our attention to the promise that the angels make to the disciples while Jesus is being taken away from them. Is there a reason to neglect the pleasures of the world and suffer for the cause of Jesus Christ? Jesus promises that there is a reward waiting for those that believe in Him and endure suffering for His name sake. Luke records that after Jesus gives the disciples final words of commission, they witness His ascension into heaven (Acts 1). At this time they are given the promise of His return. “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’” (Acts 1:11, NASB).

John, the apostle, writes to proclaim His return. “Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen” (Rev. 1:7). When Jesus returns we will receive the reward that He has for us. “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—and he has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 1:5-6, NASB).

The church is commissioned to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Messiah that saves us from our sins. Those that are saved and learn of Jesus proclaim Jesus; not in words only, but also in deeds. The starting point for change in the world is not in changing systems and structures. Rather, when people are changed because of their faith in Jesus, their light in the systems and structures will bring about needed and desirable changes. We are commissioned to work for the kingdom of God as we eagerly wait for His return.