Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 24:44-53 "EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE IN SUCCESS IN MINISTRY"
Day 360 – Luke 24
Text: Luke 24:44-53
EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE IN SUCCESS IN MINISTRY
The reasons why Jesus after His resurrection appeared to His Disciples become more and more obvious as we take time to study the Word of God carefully. The first reason was for the sake of the Disciples. They were badly shaken by the fact that Jesus had been tortured and crucified by the Romans! Some of the Disciples had seen their beloved Teacher die before their very eyes! Their knowledge and their faith had not been deep and strong enough to enable them to see beyond death! Thus Jesus had to appear to His Disciples again and again, to help climb up to an even higher level of faith.
The second reason why Jesus appeared to His Disciples frequently after His resurrection was to prepare them for a great task! They were going to be sent out as His witnesses. They were going to be sent out to preach the Gospel, and they were to make disciples of those who would come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hence, the Disciples must go over what they believe until they were very sure about their faith in the Lord Jesus. They must know the Scriptures very well, for they must expect questions from inquirers, friendly or hostile.
There was every reason to be confident, for Jesus had promised His Presence, His power and His authority. There was no reason to fear failure at all. To add to their measure of assurance, Jesus gave them another word of comfort.
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you…”
Luke 24:49
Let us take time to appreciate what Jesus meant when He said these words.
“THE PROMISE OF MY FATHER…”
We know of course that Jesus was making a reference to the Holy Spirit, when He said these words to His Disciples. But what a statement He made! What did Jesus intend His Disciples to understand as He said these words?
The first thought that comes readily to mind must be the Person of the Holy Spirit Himself. The powerful work of the Holy Spirit was well known in the Old Testament. The holy prophets of God were particularly known to possess the power of the Spirit of God.
Elijah was one of the most outstanding prophets of ancient Israel. The power of God’s Spirit was so obviously upon this man of God that his disciple Elisha desired above everything else that spiritual power. We read about this in the following text.
“And so it was, when they had crossed over,
that Elijah said to Elisha,
‘Ask! What may I do for you,
before I am taken away from you?’Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion
Of your spirit be upon me.’ “
2 Kings 2:9
Elisha’s request was granted. His master was taken from him. God had brought him home to heaven. But he was a different man after the Spirit of God came upon him. The difference was noted by his disciples.
“Now when the sons of the prophets
who were from Jericho saw him, they said,
‘The spirit of Elijah rests upon Elisha.’ “
2 Kings 2:15
One far greater than Elijah had given the Disciples this awesome promise – that they would be given the Spirit of God to assist them in their life and ministry! Jesus had spoken to them about the Person of the Holy Spirit on previous occasions (Cf. John 14-16), and now He sought to remind them of what He had taught them.
The implied meaning was obvious! Just as the Holy Spirit filled the prophets of old with great power for ministry, so the Disciples would be especially empowered when they went out to fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus had given to them!
Did the Disciples perhaps fear that they might fail if Jesus would not be with them personally and physically? They need not fear that thought! The Spirit of God would take over where Jesus left of. He possessed the same power that Jesus Himself displayed.
God had indeed promised that He would give His Spirit to those who would exercise faith in Him. Let us look at a number of places where the Promise of the Holy Spirit was given.
“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
and floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring…”
Isaiah 44:3
“And it shall come to pass afterward
that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh…And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days…”
Joel 2:28, 29
EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO PLAN
Everything was as God had planned it. John the Baptiser would be the forerunner of the Messiah. Jesus, the Anointed One would come and fulfill all righteousness and then give His life a ransom for many.
He would suffer and die, but God would raise Him from the dead. His earthly ministry may have ended, but the work of the Disciples had just begun. Their work would be greatly aided by the Spirit of God Himself, promised long ago, and preached by the prophets of old. What was needed was faith in God’s plan and obedience.