THE FINAL CHAPTER

Luke documents the final critical chapter of Jesus’ life- between his resurrection and ascension, in the book of Acts.

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.(Acts 1:3,4)

The first task for Jesus during this time was to make it amply clear to the disciples that he was indeed alive. Dead men usually stay dead, but to prove to the disciples that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead was of foremost importance. The Christian faith would be futile if Jesus was not raised because then it would be based on teachings, philosophy and ethics like all other religions. But a risen Christ ensures that the Christian faith is centered on the person of Christ who is very much alive, and seated at the right hand of God, reigning in all authority. 

The resurrected Christ also definitively foreshadows the resurrection that believers can look forward to. How utterly hopeless life would be if there is nothing to look forward to after death! But in Christ we see a unique physical-spiritual form- one that had physical characteristics, yet was a spiritual being and resembling the physical Jesus before his death. Our resurrection bodies would be similar- spiritual in nature but bearing a resemblance to the natures that characterize our souls. Common to all those who resurrect would be a faith in Christ and a devotion to follow and serve him, without which there would be no resurrection because man can ride his way to overcoming the grave only by piggybacking on to Jesus.

Jesus also gave instructions to his disciples and educated them about his resurrection and how it tied together with all that he had taught them. They now understood the preparation they had gone through during his public ministry with him and also how when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on to the world, they would receive power from above to minister for God and proclaim Jesus to the world.

Once all this was done over a span of 40 days, it was time for Jesus to conclude his ministry here on earth and in the sight of his disciples he ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God where he is forever seated, exercising authority over all powers, to establish his kingdom on earth and beyond.

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