82 SESSION LifeWay

Transcription

1 82 SESSION 7

2 The Point Jesus ascended to heaven but did not leave us alone. The Passage Acts 1:3-11 The Bible Meets Life We come to faith in Jesus when we realize we cannot come to God on our own. We are powerless to save ourselves. Yet, after coming to Christ, we often try to live for Jesus in our own power. Let s remember that Jesus has physically left the earth, but He has not left us alone. We can live for Him, we can do what s right, and we can face whatever life throws at us only because He has sent His Holy Spirit to us. The Setting Jewish officials did their best to control and shape the message about the empty tomb, but they had no control over the resurrected Jesus. Within a 40- day period, Jesus appeared numerous times to various individuals and groups, presumably to encourage them and to teach them those things they had not been ready to learn before the crucifixion. At the end of 40 days, Jesus had one final appearance and one word of instruction before returning to the Father in heaven. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 83

3 What does the Bible say? Acts 1:3-11 (HCSB) 3 After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father s promise. This, He said, is what you heard from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time? 7 He said to them, It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven. 84 SESSION 7

4 THE POINT Jesus ascended to heaven but did not leave us alone. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members to turn their attention to the image on page 69 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG). Ask: Whose words always catch your attention? Allow time for each person to respond. Notes TIP: Throughout the week, take time to pray for your group members by name. SUMMARIZE: Want to know what s important to a person? Find out what s on his or her mind when he or she comes to the end of life. Leonardo da Vinci, artist of the Italian Renaissance, said this: I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have. 1 Jesus final earthly words held great significance. After His resurrection, and just before His ascension, Jesus told His disciples and us what mattered to Him. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses (Acts 1:8). What was on Jesus mind? God s kingdom and our need for His continued presence in our lives. SAY: Jesus returned to heaven, but He knew we couldn t accomplish His mission on our own. We would need the presence and the power of His Spirit to carry out that work. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 70 of the PSG: Jesus ascended to heaven but did not leave us alone. ENHANCEMENT: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #7, Acts 1:8 poster, to highlight the focus of today s session. PRAY: Transition into the Bible study by praying for your group to gain a deeper understanding of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives. 1. Charles Nicholl, Leonardo da Vinci: Flights of the Mind, Penguin Books, (2005). Display Pack Item #7 to communicate the session topic. Cut apart Pack Item #8 and have it ready to distribute to your group. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 85

5 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 1:3 Notes 3 After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What have you learned or heard about the Kingdom of God? READ: Ask a group member to read Acts 1:3 aloud. DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 72 of the PSG: How does verse 3 set the context for the rest of the passage? RECAP THE PSG: The disciples were with Jesus for three years of solid training. They saw Him perform miracles, witnessed Him calm the storms, and heard Him teach. Yet when we look at the disciples words and actions during Jesus trial, it would appear they hadn t heard or seen much at all. They doubted. They wandered. They feared. And they ran. But after their Friend and Savior rose from the dead, everything changed. For 40 days, Jesus spoke to them and gave them a crash course on the kingdom of God (PSG, p. 72). TRANSITION: In the next verses, Christ wanted the disciples to know of a promised gift He would send to them. 86 SESSION 7

6 THE POINT Jesus ascended to heaven but did not leave us alone. Acts 1:3 Commentary Jesus equipped His disciples for His departure. Verse 3: Acts 1 and Luke 24 cover much of the same material, although Acts 1 summarizes what is addressed in much greater detail in Luke 24. After His crucifixion, Jesus appeared to His disciples, showing Himself to be risen bodily with many convincing proofs. The term convincing proofs has the sense of irrefutable evidence which there was no way of getting around or away from. He appeared to them many times over a period of 40 days, most likely to strengthen their faith for their task of being His witnesses and helping them to deal with any lingering doubts they might have had (Matthew 28:17; Luke 24:38). Jesus took steps to demonstrate to His disciples that He had in fact been bodily resurrected (Luke 24:37 39). He invited them to physically touch Him; showed them His hands and feet, which would have borne the scars of His crucifixion; and ate with them (vv ). Luke records only three of Jesus many appearances to His disciples His appearance to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus (vv ), His appearance to Simon (v. 34), and His appearance to the Eleven and those with them gathered together (vv. 33, 36 49). The apostle Paul provides a more detailed list of Jesus appearances in 1 Corinthians 15:3 8. In addition to Jesus appearing to Peter and the other disciples multiple times, Paul relates that Jesus appeared to 500 of His followers at one time and to His brother James. Jesus was instructing the disciples during those 40 days concerning the kingdom of God, which had been the central theme of His earthly ministry from the very beginning. After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news! (Mark 1:14 15). The kingdom of God is the exercise of God s sovereign rule. The promise of the kingdom of God became a reality in the presence and ministry of Jesus the gospel was preached, prophecies were fulfilled, and demons cast out of people. Wherever Jesus ministered, the kingdom of God was manifest. Jesus crucifixion, death, and resurrection furthered the coming of the kingdom as Satan, sin, and death were defeated. Now God s kingdom would be spread through the coming of the Holy Spirit and the witness of the disciples to what they had seen and experienced in their time with Jesus. Luke s Gospel gives some insight into exactly what Jesus was teaching the disciples. Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27; see vv ). BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 87

7 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 1:4-8 Notes 4 While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father s promise. This, He said, is what you heard from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 6 So when they had come together, they asked Him, Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time? 7 He said to them, It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. READ: Ask a group member to read Acts 1:4-8 aloud. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What are the similarities and differences between Jesus earthly ministry and the ministry of the Holy Spirit? DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 73 of the PSG: In your own words, how would you describe the presence and work of the Holy Spirit? SUMMARIZE: The Holy Spirit lives within each follower of Jesus Christ. He is always present in full power within each of us, all at the same time. The Holy Spirit is God, a part of the Trinity. It s the Holy Spirit who indwells, transforms, and empowers each believer to live the victorious kingdom life as we align ourselves under the lordship of Jesus Christ. DO: Divide your members into groups of three or four people each. Within each small group, direct members to take turns sharing aloud their responses to the activity on page 75 of the PSG. The Great Counselor: Which of the following best depicts the Holy Spirit s role in your life right now? Explain. What steps can you take to be more aware of the Holy Spirit s presence in your life? TRANSITION: Just as Jesus ministered through the power of the Holy Spirit, so too would His disciples ( Acts 1:4-8 Commentary ). 88 SESSION 7

8 THE POINT Jesus ascended to heaven but did not leave us alone. Acts 1:4-8 Commentary Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to empower His followers. Verse 4: Jesus commanded them not to leave Jerusalem until they had received the Father s promise. This is a reference to the Holy Spirit (Luke 12:12; 24:49). In the upper room on the night of His arrest and betrayal, Jesus had told His disciples the Spirit would be coming to be with them forever when He left to return to the Father (John 14:16, 26). The Spirit would not come until after Jesus ascension to the Father (16:7). Verse 5: Jesus reference to John baptizing with water recalls John the Baptist s declaration, I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is more powerful than I He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). The word translated baptized means immersed or submerged. Used in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, the term refers to God s pouring out the Spirit on the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:2 4). They would be saturated with God s presence. Verse 6: Jesus met with the disciples one final time before His ascension on the Mount of Olives. The disciples asked Jesus a question that revealed a major concern and a monumental misunderstanding. Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time? Most likely, the question reflects the disciples expectation that the Messiah would be a military/political leader who would restore Israel to the power and prominence the nation had enjoyed under David and Solomon. This was not the first time they had asked such questions and had such expectations (Luke 19:11; 21:7). The disciples appear to have interpreted Jesus words about God s fulfilling His promise and the Spirit s coming to mean the final coming of God s kingdom was about to occur. Jewish eschatology of that time associated both the coming of the Spirit and the fulfillment of God s promises with the apocalyptic Day of the Lord and the final salvation of the nation of Israel. The disciples were expecting the immediate, full, and final establishment of the kingdom of God, with Israel returned to a place of prominence and authority. Verse 7-8: Jesus shifted the disciples focus. They were not to be concerned with knowing the specific times or periods God had set for establishing the kingdom and the critical events involved in its coming. God alone has the authority to set the times and periods for the working out of and fulfillment of His purposes. With His words, Jesus did not deny the restoration of Israel. Instead, He gave the disciples a new perspective. They were to bring the light of salvation to both the Jews of Israel and all the Gentile nations (Isaiah 49:6). They would receive power to be Jesus witnesses. God the Holy Spirit would supply the necessary power to accomplish this task. The Greek word translated power has the idea of divine strength, energy, or might. It is the same word associated with the miracles of Jesus in the Gospels. It also carries the sense of ability. Just as Jesus ministered through the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14), so too would His disciples. Jesus words in verse 8 give an outline of Christianity s geographic expansion as the Spirit empowered Jesus followers in the Book of Acts. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 89

9 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Acts 1:9-11 Notes 9 After He had said this, He was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. 10 While He was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven. READ: Ask a group member to read Acts 1:9-11 aloud. RECAP: Notice the verbs Luke used in verses 9-11 to describe Jesus ascension into heaven. He was taken up. A cloud took Him out of their sight. He was going. In other words, Jesus ascension was a visible and physical event. This was neither a mirage nor a figment of their imagination. In the same way Jesus was resurrected bodily, He ascended bodily (PSG, p. 74). ALTERNATE QUESTION: What emotions do you experience when you think about Jesus return? DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 74 of the PSG: Why is it important that Jesus disciples witnessed His ascension? RECAP: It s important to realize Jesus physically ascended not just as a spirit and He will also physically return. As the disciples watched Jesus ascend, two angels told them, This Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen Him going into heaven (v. 11) (PSG, p. 74). DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 75 of the PSG: How does the promise of Jesus return influence your daily decisions? TRANSITION: Just as Jesus ascended into heaven, He will return to gather His people to take them to His Father s house (John 14:2-3). 90 SESSION 7

10 THE POINT Jesus ascended to heaven but did not leave us alone. Acts 1:9-11 Commentary Jesus ascended and will return for His followers. Verse 9: The ascension is mentioned only here and in Luke 24:51 and Mark 16:19, although Jesus mentioned His ascension in His command to Mary not to cling to Him (John 20:17). The ascension marks the end of Jesus earthly ministry, the end of the 40 day period of the resurrected Lord among His disciples, and serves as the moment of His exaltation to the right hand of the Father. As Peter wrote, Jesus has gone into heaven, He is at God s right hand with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him (1 Peter 3:22; see 1 Timothy 3:16). While the term cloud is used of normal, everyday weather-related phenomena (Luke 12:54), in the New Testament clouds are usually associated with the power and presence of God and/or eschatological events. The term is found in the account of the Transfiguration (9:28 36), where a cloud appeared and overshadowed them [Peter, James, and John]. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came from the cloud, saying: This is My Son, the Chosen One; listen to Him! (vv ). Jesus spoke regarding His Second Coming, they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30b). Clouds are associated with the presence and power of God in the Old Testament as well. A few examples include: God led the Israelites out of Egypt going before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). God appeared to Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites in a cloud that displayed His glory to them (16:10; 19:9; 24:16). When the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (tent of meeting), a cloud covered the tent (Exodus 40:34 38; Numbers 9:15 22). Verses 10-11: Jesus ascension is detailed in a single verse. The primary focus is not on the event, as significant as that was, but rather on the message of the two heavenly messengers. Just as Jesus had redirected the focus of His disciples previously (Acts 1:7 8), now the two angels redirect the disciples focus away from the miraculous ascension of their Lord with the question, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? Jesus was gone, into the cloud and out of their sight. The time had come for the disciples to stop gazing at the sky and redirect their attention to the task at hand which Jesus had given them witnessing to all they had seen, culminating with Jesus ascension. However, the reality of Jesus ascension serves to give weight to the promise that the angels spoke to the disciples concerning Jesus return. Jesus would return in the same way in which He had gone, in a cloud with power and great glory (Luke 21:27). Jesus promised His disciples that He was going away to prepare a place for them and that He would return for them, to take them to the Father s house (John 14:2-3). The Book of Revelation tells of that glorious day when the body of Christ will gather together with Jesus at the marriage feast of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9). The promise of Jesus eventual return is as much a fact and reality as was His going into heaven. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 91

11 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: So what does living in light of the ascension look like? Notes GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 76 of the PSG. Carve out time to spend in prayer and Bible study this week. The more time you invest in these spiritual disciplines, the easier it will be to recognize the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Memorize Acts 1:8 as a reminder of our task as believers and God s promise of His Holy Spirit. Learn more about the Holy Spirit. Check out Scripture passages, articles, and podcasts that dig deeper into the role and work of the Holy Spirit. ENHANCEMENT: Distribute Pack Item #8, Acts 1:8 Memory Verse Cards, and encourage your group members to commit this passage to memory. Wrap It Up SAY: You don t know what your last words in this life will be. No one does. However, you can know here and now that you re never alone. God Himself His Holy Spirit lives in you. 92 SESSION 7

12 My group's prayer requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, collegiates, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. One Student Can Start a Movement Most of the students in the small province would choose to attend any other university in the country. Their local university, located on a Southeast Asian island, is neither prestigious nor acclaimed. However, it holds the potential to be the starting point of a Gospel movement to sweep across the entire province and, ultimately, the entire island. To continue reading One Student Can Start a Movement from Threadsmedia.com, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 93