THE SEND: Luke & ActsSample

Jesus is alive.

We don't follow a dead hero. We follow a risen King.

Luke's Gospel dramatically ends with the story of Jesus' resurrection and ascension. The disciples are puzzled (Luke 24:4), terrified (Luke 24:5), frightened (Luke 24:37). Luke even says that when they finally recognised him, "Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder." (Luke 24:41). They couldn't believe that a dead man had risen again. Have you ever wondered if Jesus really is who he says he is? The disciples did too.

Just outside of Jerusalem, two of these followers of Jesus are walking away from the city, with sadness in their hearts, thinking that Jesus was defeated in his death. But they encounter a mysterious man (spoiler: it's Jesus). As he unpacks the Old Testament to them, they come to understand that Jesus' dying and rising again wasn't plan B but was always God's plan (Luke 24:25-26). In fact, Jesus' death and resurrection decisively reveal that he is the ultimate king: victorious over sin, victorious over death, and victorious over every spiritual power. No wonder their hearts burned within them as Jesus opened their eyes to see the truth!

Jesus then shows the rest of the disciples how people will become part of this kingdom. It is God's plan for the following message to be proclaimed in power to all the nations: "There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent." (Luke 24:47). He also said that his disciples should wait to receive the promised Holy Spirit, power to be his witnesses (Luke 24:48-49).

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if Jesus had never went back up to heaven? Maybe you've thought that life would be better if he'd stayed. But Jesus gives us something even better than himself on earth.

He gives us the Holy Spirit – God's presence living in us. The Spirit does so many crazy things in our lives, but a thing that's often overlooked is that he gives us boldness, authority, and power to be witnesses. Jesus tells his disciples to tell "people about me everywhere" (Acts 1:8). Why? Because people need to know about this King who defeated sin, death, and every spiritual power. We'll see this promise fulfilled as we continue reading.

Ask God to give you the same confidence in the risen King that made the disciples' hearts burn within them.