Crucifixion; resurrection; Hallelujah Jesus is alive! So… what comes next? I’m pretty sure that was the question in most of their minds. Get the picture… Jesus had appeared to the two discouraged disciples who were returning from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Filled with excitement they returned to Jerusalem and were reporting their experience to the rest of the disciples when “Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said “Peace to you!”. It took a while for that ‘peace’ to work! Luke says “But they were terrified and frightened and thought they had seen a ghost”. Luke’s account in 24 v41 says that “And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’”.
It was almost too good to be true. But it was good and it was true! Jesus was standing there in front of them asking if there was something to eat and telling them what was to come next; that they were to be His witnesses, and starting at Jerusalem the Good News of salvation would spread throughout the whole world.
Yes, it was what came next that would change this joyful, but fearful group, into a dynamic Gospel preaching team. What Jesus had promised, happened! During that waiting period after Jesus was taken up into Heaven, they did not know what to expect, but when it happened they knew what it was! It was the promised Holy Spirit; the ‘power from on high’ that filled them with boldness and willingness to serve the Lord whatever the cost. Luke records it for us in Acts 2 v1-4.
Praise God! Today we too can be “filled with power from on high”. Peter told the questioning crowd on the Day of Pentecost: “This promise is for you, and for your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord shall call” Acts 2 v39.
However far we have travelled in our Christian experience, there is always something more. A new joy, a new challenge, a new experience; or even a new filling of the Holy Spirit’s power. Jesus said, “…if you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him?” Luke 11 v13.
Be blessed as you are filled every day with power from on high.
Eddie.