CENTRAL THOUGHT
Christ still ministers in His church today.
TEXT: MATT.28:16-20; JOHN 20:19-29; ACTS 1:3-11
INTRODUCTION:
After the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and before his ascension into heaven, He appeared to His disciples in bodily form on several occasions. This was to convince them that He is risen, in view of the task ahead. Even after His resurrection, Jesus continued to physically manifest Himself to the church in ways that show that He is alive.
The post resurrection ministry of Christ has many remarkable events in church history. It was during this period that the ministry of the Apostles was confirmed, and the great commission emphatically declared. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit came to pass, and the church started in earnest. Non-Jews were admitted into the grace of God, and the message of the kingdom became clearer to His disciples.
The ministry of Christ is still very active to this day. There are daily signs and wonders done in His Name, showing that the risen Christ is still the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb.13:8). It Is good and important for us to continually remind ourselves of the presence of Jesus Christ in the present-day church.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to:
- Discuss instances of the appearance of Jesus Christ after His resurrection.
- Examine the reactions of those He appeared to;
- Identify the assignment and assurances given to believers after His resurrection.
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1) FROM THE SCRIPTURES, IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS WHO ENCOUNTERED THE LORD JESUS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION
The angels of God were the first to testify that Christ has risen and no longer in the tomb ( Luke 24:4-6). Human witnesses who had encounters with the Lord Jesus after His resurrection were many. Some of those recorded in the Scriptures are as follows:
(a) Mary Magdalene saw Jesus in the garden around the tomb and mistook Him for the gardener (John 20:14-18).
(b) The ten disciples saw Jesus and talked with Him while they were locked up in the house. Thomas was not present at this encounter (John 20:19).
(c) In His second appearance to the eleven disciples, the Lord told Thomas to “reach out and touch” His hands and side, and confirm the marks of His wounds (John 20:26-29).
(d) Cleopas and one other disciple encountered the Lord Jesus on the road to Emmaus and talked about the recent events of the crucifixion, without knowing that it was the Lord, until “their eyes were opened”. (Luke 24:13-31).
(e) He appeared to Saul of Tarsus, then a great enemy of the church, on the road to Damascus in a life-changing encounter (Acts 9:3-5)
(f) Several other disciples were mentioned as having seen the resurrected Christ at various instances.
(1 Cor.15:5-9)
QUESTION 2) WHAT WERE THE REACTIONS OF THOSE WHO SAW JESUS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION?
They all knew the fact that Jesus was dead and buried and were all mourning this great calamity. In this mood, when they saw Jesus physically, they were initially filled with fear, thinking they had seen a ghost. They doubted if it was really Christ or some other strange spirit. Eventually they believed, when Jesus spoke and reassured them, they were filled with joy. They became more attentive and inquisitive to know more about Him. For a period of forty days, He appeared to them, fellowshipped with them and encouraged them. These contributed to the strengthening of their conviction and resolve to carry on with the ministry of Christ.
QUESTION 3) WHAT ASSIGNMENT DID JESUS EXPRESSLY GIVE TO HIS DISCIPLES IN HIS POST RESURRECTION APPEARANCE? MATT.28:16-20; MARK 16:15-18; LUKE 24:49; JOHN 21:17
The assignment is popularly referred to as “the great commission”. It is the great mandate of the church whose components are as follows:
(a) To preach the good news to all nations.
(b) To teach i.e. to give a careful and learned explanation of the scriptures to those who believe.
(c) Preach repentance i.e. lead those who believe through a process of renouncing sin and Satan, and pledging to live in newness of life under the grace of God.
(d) To baptize i.e. to make those who believe identify with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
(e) To make disciples i.e. to raise people who are consecrated and dedicated to the cause of the gospel using all their God-given talents and resources.
(f) To heal the sick and deliver all that are oppressed by the powers of darkness through faith in the name of Jesus.
(g) To confront and defeat every power of darkness, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
(h) To make room for the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
QUESTION 4) WHAT PROVISION DID CHRIST GIVE TO HIS DISCIPLES IN THE TASK OF THE GREAT COMMISSION?
To carry out the task of the great commission, Christ provided the church with assurances of His supernatural support for all mission endeavors, some of which are:
(a) Believers are to be endued with power from on high i.e. they are to receive the full unction of the Holy Spirit as it happened on the day of Pentecost.
(b) Believers are to receive power to qualify them for fruitful services. This power is manifested in supernatural boldness and knowledge.
(c) Their witnessing and preaching shall be confirmed with the divine seal of miracles.
(d) They will be able to speak in new tongues, strange to hearers and discomfiting to the powers of darkness.
(e) They are to be endowed with supernatural gifts for self-renewal and for the work of the ministry.
(f) The material provision for this commission will be made by God Himself (Luke 10:3-4).
(g) He promised them peace and joy in the midst of tribulations ( John 16:33)
The great commission to the church and the provision of Christ for the work are universal ( for all nations), for all times, for all believers and unto the close of the age (until Christ returns). It is still very much relevant as when it was first given.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
It was after the resurrection of Christ that the great commission of the church and divine provisions were made clear by the Lord Jesus Christ. The early church keyed fully into both and were able to turn the world right side up for Christ. Despite their obvious personal limitations, every one acknowledged that God was at work in them.
The present-day church must not compromise the details of the great commission and must not subvert, weaken, or undermine the personality of the Holy Spirit.
MEMORY VERSE:
MARK 16:15
“And He said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MONDAY: YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER.
Acts 1:8.
TUESDAY: ALL POWER HAS BEEN GIVEN TO JESUS: Matt.28:18
WEDNESDAY: THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE. Mark 16:17-18.
THURSDAY: FEED MY SHEEP.
John 21:15-17
FRIDAY: PEACE IN THE MIDST OF TRIBULATION.
John 16:33
SATURDAY: THEY WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. Acts 2:4.