There are times in all of our lives when, at least in retrospect, we realize that something we thought was an ending actually turned out to be the beginning of something even bigger. The Gospels end in just such a way. The disciples of Jesus had thought that his death was the end. And even after they realized that he was alive, many still believed that their journey with Jesus had come to a close.
Yet in all 4 of the Gospels, in different ways, the Risen Jesus makes it clear that their journey as his disciples has just begun. In fact, following Jesus was now going to be a much bigger venture than it was in the past. Now, they weren’t simply going to follow Jesus around and watch. Instead, they were being sent out into the world to places they had never been before. They were being sent to be the conveyers of the message, not just the hearers. They were being sent to BE the physical presence of Jesus in the world, not just to talk about Jesus.
The Gospels end in this way because the writers of the Gospels understood that Jesus’ call to continue to live as his disciples wasn’t just for people long ago, but for disciples of all times and places. It’s Jesus’ call to us. We are also people who are called to be followers of Jesus wherever we are. We are also people who are called to be conveyers of Jesus’ message through our words and deeds and attitudes. And we are also people who are called not simply to talk about Jesus, but to be the physical presence of Jesus in the world – people through whom God can work to touch the lives of others.
Yet in all 4 of the Gospels, in different ways, the Risen Jesus makes it clear that their journey as his disciples has just begun. In fact, following Jesus was now going to be a much bigger venture than it was in the past. Now, they weren’t simply going to follow Jesus around and watch. Instead, they were being sent out into the world to places they had never been before. They were being sent to be the conveyers of the message, not just the hearers. They were being sent to BE the physical presence of Jesus in the world, not just to talk about Jesus.
The Gospels end in this way because the writers of the Gospels understood that Jesus’ call to continue to live as his disciples wasn’t just for people long ago, but for disciples of all times and places. It’s Jesus’ call to us. We are also people who are called to be followers of Jesus wherever we are. We are also people who are called to be conveyers of Jesus’ message through our words and deeds and attitudes. And we are also people who are called not simply to talk about Jesus, but to be the physical presence of Jesus in the world – people through whom God can work to touch the lives of others.
Matthew 28:16–20
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Acts 1:1–11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."Acts 1:1–11
6So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
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