This Same Jesus

Background Story: The book of Acts was written by Luke who started the book of Luke in a similar manner. His goal was to research and write the accounts of Jesus so that, “you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” (Luke 1:1-4)

Read Acts 1:1-11

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Big Idea: Jesus is the risen Savior and Lord.

These men had walked with Jesus, broken bread with Him, built fires and shared stories, done ministry together, and watched as He was crucified before their very eyes. When Jesus appeared after He rose from the dead in John 20 and 21, He appeared to Mary in chapter 20, verses 11-18 calling her by name and showing Himself to be the risen Lord. Then He met the other disciples in verses 19-20 speaking peace and showing them His resurrected body. Next He met Thomas in His doubts and fears in verses 24-29 revealing Himself as both Lord and God. Then we read in chapter 21, Jesus met Peter on the water where they were first introduced reminding Peter who He is and who He had created Peter to be.

This same Jesus who loves us, calls us, and knows us… is the resurrected Lord who is making intercession for us at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34). This same Jesus calls us not only to salvation but to abundant life as believers (John 10:10). This same Jesus gives us the power to overcome the evil one and to stand against all temptation (Ephesians 6:10-18). This same Jesus makes us more like Him and less like us as we surrender daily to the changing work of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:13-26). This same Jesus is returning as He promised as the triumphant King and every eye shall behold Him (Revelation 19:11-16). This same Jesus is worthy of all praise, glory and honor and to Him we give our hearts, lives, and surrender!

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