When a close friend goes away to some special place on holiday you might hope to receive a souvenir from him or her. Let me tell you about a free gift from Someone who went away on a very special journey out of this world, and it is much better than a souvenir!
The disciples of Jesus had just experienced a great turn-a-round. They had been so frightened and confused when Jesus had been taken from them and crucified. But now things were changed; Jesus was back with them again, alive from the dead! 1*.
The risen Jesus explained to them the meaning of His death and resurrection. Then He told them they were to go to "all nations" as "witnesses of these things"! 2*. "He commanded them to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead… that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name." 3*.
But Jesus was very soon to leave them again to return to His Father in Heaven. 4*. How could these men who had been so frightened and powerless when Jesus was taken from them before, now go and preach about Jesus?
Jesus was NOT going to abandon them! Jesus was going to "ask the Father, and He would give them another Counsellor to be with them for ever - the Spirit of truth." Jesus reassured them, "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." 5*. "I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. … While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into Heaven." 6*. With great joy they worshipped Jesus. 7*.
The writer of this gospel, Luke, had now finished his story of the life of Jesus Christ on earth.
Later Luke wrote another book called "Acts of the Apostles", which is also in the Holy Bible. In it he tells of the great difference the Holy Spirit made to the lives of those who believed in Jesus to be their Saviour. 8*.
So Jesus' genuine gift from Heaven, to all who put their trust in Him, is His Holy Spirit. And "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 9*. The genuine gift of the Holy Spirit gives the person the power to love and serve God and to resist evil.
Be careful not to confuse Jesus' gift of the Holy Spirit, which God alone can give, 8*. with anything that men or religion might offer, or claim to give you, and call by the same name! Such offers and claims do nothing to make you pleasing or acceptable to God. 10*.
Read in Luke's gospel chapter 24, verses 48-53 of Jesus' promise to send "power from on high" to those who trusted in Him.
Bye for now,
John Nixon, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
In order to browse all of the "Good News Compage" prompts and commentary for Luke's Gospel check out the review index.
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