May 10, 2018
Luke 24:44-53 Tree of Life Version (TLV)
Yesterday, we went to the Gospel of Mark to read about Jesus’ last day on earth before his ascension to heaven. He commissioned his disciples to teach repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sin, and new life in Christ by their witness. Their experience with Christ was of great importance and they were to remember it. In his Spirit-led humanity, he fulfilled everything mentioned in the Scriptures or Word of God: Torah, Prophets, Psalms. But, the disciples needed one more thing before they began the work of Christ…the person and power of the Holy Spirit.
In our passage today, from the Gospel of Luke, after Jesus had commissioned his disciples, he told them to wait in Jerusalem until they had received power from on high. Fulfilling Christ’s mission to redeem the world was never anything to be done in human strength or power. God’s redemption of humanity and the world would be accomplished by the fulfillment of another prophetic Old Testament Scripture, “I am the LORD all-Powerful. So don’t depend on your own power or strength, but on my Spirit” (Zechariah 4:6 CEV).
According to Scripture, Christ is coming back for his Body of believers. Something God has impressed upon my heart has to do with the “building” or “grooming” of the Temple or the Body of Christ. Before the ascension or rapture of believers, the Spirit will be poured out over all flesh and true power from on high will be experienced in those who have made themselves ready. You can be made ready by repentance (turning to Christ), forgiveness of sin (asking to be covered by the blood of Christ), and allowing the work of the Spirit (cleansing us or reshaping our lives) to bring us into agreement with the Word—Jesus Christ—the Head of the Body. Walking by faith and allowing the renewing of our thoughts is the grooming process. Allow the Spirit to use the Word to renew your mind or thinking. Deception is the work of Satan and the way to protect ourselves against it is the renewing of our minds. Christ the Head is returning and he will be looking for the Body of believers made in his image.