April 3, 2016
Morning Service

Matt. 28; Mk.16; Lk. 24;

John 20-21; Acts 1.

 

            Our Bible has just given us one of the most amazing events in history.  The resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.  He had told His disciples on three different occasions that this would happen, but they could never grasp it.  After the resurrection, they remembered.  This morning we will look at what happened immediately after He appeared to them, and then went away into heaven.  Bro. Sam taught on this past Wednesday evening, and this is why you should try and make the Wednesday services.  You learn so much more when you can attend every service.  Let’s begin.

·         In all four gospels the account of Mary Magdalene, and the other women varies somewhat according to the writer.  We will see this also in the accounts of the great commission. 

·         Matthew:   The great commission.   The tax collector, called out by Jesus.

Mat 28:16-20  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.  (17)  And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.  (18)  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.( ICor.15)  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

·         Mark:   Peter’s version of the great commission. This is John Mark.

Mar 16:(14)  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.  (15)  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  (16)  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  (17)  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  (18)  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.  (19)  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.  (20)  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

·         Luke:  The beloved physician.  Also wrote the book of Acts.

Luk 24:36-53  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  (37)  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.  (38)  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?  (39)  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.  (40)  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.  (44)  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.  (45)  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,  (46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:  (47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  (48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.  (49)  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.  (50)  And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.  (51)  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.  (52)  And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:  (53)  And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

 

John:   John’s version of the great commission.  Writer of 1-2-3 John & Revelation.

Joh 20:19-31  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  (20)  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.  (21)  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  (22)  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:  (23)  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

·         One of the Scriptures that shows the power of the leadership of the church.

(29)  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  (30)  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:  (31)  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

…….Joh 21:14-17  This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.  (17)  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Because of these encounters with the Lord after His resurrection the disciples were willing to give their lives for Him.  They all, except John, were killed for their faith in Christ.  Now Luke goes on in the Book of Acts:

Act 1:1-11  The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  (2)  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:  (3)  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:  (4)  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.  (5)  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.  (6)  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?  (7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.  (8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (9)  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  (10)  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  (11)  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

Lord willing we will look at what’s revealed concerning the Lord’s coming starting next Sunday morning.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, GIVE US THE DESIRE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE, GRACE, AND MERCY.  AMEN.