The Real Jesus

The story of the real Jesus concludes with the best of all possible endings, a brand-new beginning. Join us as we turn to the final chapter of Luke's Gospel and discover the never-ending story. We were created to inhabit a life of freedom, fulfillment, and purpose under God's gracious reign. As you discover the truth of the real Jesus, you'll find the source of your own stories.

I must ask a tough question to Jesus today. Now that you've been raised from the dead, what do you need to do before you go back to heaven? I mean, he was raised on Easter Sunday. He didn't go back for six weeks. Why didn't he just blast straight up to be with heaven in heaven with God forever and ever? When he was raised, what did he have to do on Earth?

He had to appear to His disciples to prove to them that He was really alive. Luke 24:36-43 tell the account of Jesus appearing to His disciples. They would never have believed if they had simply heard that he was alive. Now he has their attention, so he does something else.

2.   He taught them about himself. Luke 24:44-47. Now, remember, for three years, Jesus taught with parables, but not this time. This time, instead of teaching with parables, he takes the scripture that he's hidden in his heart and his head and in his heart, what we call the Old Testament. They were just called the Jewish scriptures. He began saying, you know, all these passages from Genesis through Malachi, you can't believe how many of these point to me. And he went through those and said, this is this points to me and this points to me and this pointed to me, this predicted me.

3.   He sent them out as eyewitnesses. Jesus changed the focus instead of talking about how the Scriptures pointed to him. He says, Now I want to talk about all of you disciples. Because Jesus had done everything God sent Him to do. Now he says, Disciples, there's something for you to do. You are witnesses of all these things. And now I will send the Holy Spirit just as my father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven. That's a new thing he has called them to do. He has called them to be witnesses. They've been with him for three years. Now they're about to receive the Holy Spirit, and they're going to tell all nations everywhere what they personally know, what they have seen, what they have heard, what they have experienced. And that is why Jesus sent them out because they and only they at that time could speak from firsthand experience of knowing Christ.

In Luke 24:50 we read, “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.” So they worshipped him and then returned to Jerusalem, filled with great joy. And they spent all their time in the temple praising God. Now, Luke doesn't tell us when this ascension, this lifting up of Jesus going back to heaven occurs. But we know from the Book of Acts, which Luke also wrote, that it happens 40 days after the crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus now six weeks later, takes the disciples to a little town called Bethany on the Mount of Olives. And right before their eyes, he goes up into heaven.

The ending is that Jesus had done everything on earth that he was supposed to do. He said, Now I'm announcing a new beginning. Your work is starting. My work on earth is done. I was here as the body of Christ. Now your job is the body of Christ is to go out and to do something, to receive the Holy Spirit, to let the church be born, to let that 120 ten days from then on Pentecost Sunday, that little band of 120 shakes the world. And that is why Jesus went home to be with his father so we could do greater things.

Do you know that passage in John 14? Jesus says to them, If I don't go and send the Holy Spirit to you, you'll be limited. But if I go ascend, you'll do greater things than I did. How can I do anything greater than Jesus? I've never made a lame person walk. How many lepers have you cured just by touching them? How many dead people have you raised? How do we do anything better than Jesus? And the only answer I can think of is if you take all the people who have followed Jesus throughout history, including all of us, and you look at the ways that God has used us in the world as a Holy Spirit has lived within us and within every person who's ever lived that knows Jesus.

Jesus also calls us to make disciples with those who are in our spheres of influence. And some of you think, Paul, there just aren't that many people in my life that I might possibly influence towards Christ. Really? Let's take a look at your spheres of influence. Let's start with your immediate family. Those are the people that live with you. If you're in a blended family, your children come in for several days during the week or perhaps for several months in the course of the year. It's everybody that lives in your home. Now, sometimes those are the hardest. To lead to Christ and to be a disciple-maker. But let me just say that by words and deeds, God will use you.

Parents, do not neglect your children spiritually. Do not assume that our church is God's first call to raise your kids to know Christ. We are to partner with you. It is your job. You are God's plan A. We are supporting Plan A. Parents disciple your children.

There's the extended family. Now the extended family is mom, dad, grandparents, brothers, sisters, cousins, grown kids, and those who live away from us.

Take a look at who God has placed in your sphere of influence. Friends, elementary school friends, high school friends, college friends, friends from a club that you've been in, these are the ones God is calling you to make disciples of. Why not share something about what Christ means to you?