As we were reminded last Sunday, Easter marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, the single most important event in all human history.
After His resurrection, He appeared to many and talked and instructed His disciples. Then He ascended to heaven; the gospel of Mark says it like this: “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.” Mark 16:19.
Now what? Did Jesus enter into history through a miraculous birth, live a sinless life, have a ministry filled with miracles, show us the heart of God and the reality of the kingdom of God, suffer a tragic death by crucifixion, have a triumphant resurrection, and then fly off into heaven leaving us the Bible so that we can read about it ... or is there more?
As we read on in Mark, we see that Jesus’ ascension to heaven was not the end, but the beginning: “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” Mark 16:20.
Jesus’ disciples “went out” and “preached everywhere” and “the Lord working with them and confirming the word” ... this tells me that Jesus continued to minister through the lives and ministry of His disciples, and I believe that the Bible clearly tells us that is exactly what God’s plan was, and is, even today.
Let’s live every day with the “empowering” of the Holy Spirit that Jesus confirmed would be available to all who ask … and “be” witnesses of the living Christ, not just on Easter, but every day.
Louie Locke is the pastor of Fountainhead Foursquare Church, 3690 U.S. Highway 395, Carson City, www.ffcwired.org.
