The book of Acts is fascinating and contains many details about the beginning of the church. In the first chapter, Dr. Luke, the author of Acts, tells us that Jesus appeared to the apostles and others multiple times. What would it have been like to see Jesus and hear Him teach again after He rose from the dead?
During the forty days after He suffered and died, He appeared to the apostles from time to time, and He proved to them in many ways that He was actually alive. And He talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
- Acts 1:3
All four Gospels record many instances where Jesus appeared to people after His resurrection. (See Matthew 28:8ff.; Mark 16:9ff.; Luke 24:13ff.; John 20:11ff.) In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul emphasized that many saw Jesus, and He proved that He had risen from the grave, triumphant over death.
He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, He was seen by more than 500 of His followers at one time.
- 1 Corinthians 15:5-6
Jesus’ appearances and teaching about the Kingdom of God were to validate His resurrection and prepare His followers for the bold mission He had assigned them. First, Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Once when He was eating with them, He commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 1:4-5
The promise of the Holy Spirit—the third person of the Triune God—provided power, guidance, comfort, and support to Jesus' followers (see Luke 24:49). Their mission was to go into the whole world and share the good news about Jesus’ victory over death and sin.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
- Acts 1:8
The stage is set for the book of Acts. Jesus gave these final words of instruction before He ascended into heaven. He commanded us to be His witnesses. The word—witness—in its various forms appears 39 times and emphasizes the central theme for the church. It is Jesus’ mandate for His followers.
Friends, we cannot accomplish this task without the Holy Spirit's power. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit so His followers could fulfill His command. We are called to share the Good News of salvation with everyone.
Head to Heart
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be willing to share your story. Are you worried about how someone will receive your message? What if they mock you or reject your words? What if that person refuses to talk to you anymore?
But what if they become curious and start asking questions? They might tell you that they sensed that there was something “different” about you. (I believe that is the Holy Spirit in your life. Let your light shine!)
How can we share the love of Jesus with people every day? Think of creative ways to witness to others—smiles, words of appreciation, acts of kindness, notes of encouragement.
Let’s plan some small steps for our witness strategy.
What is your Jerusalem? Make a list of the people you see regularly.
What is your Judea? Think about the people you may only see every few months.
What is your Samaria? This list might include people you see only a few times a year.
What does your world look like? Perhaps you've traveled or participated in a mission trip, meeting people from other countries. Could you write to them or reach out via WhatsApp?
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Thank you Brenda. Wonderful message. Sending love to you and Walt. Denise