Anchor My Faith

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Author: Stephen Weller
732 words, 4 minutes read time

Final Words of Jesus

Scripture: Matthew 28:16-17; Luke 24:44-48

With the previous lesson we finished the section in which Jesus restores Peter into fellowship and assigns him a responsibility in the coming church. With this lesson we begin the section that contains the final words Jesus spoke to his disciples before ascending into heaven.

Mt 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

^{Lk 24:44} Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

Jesus is with his disciples just before the ascension and has some final words for them. The disciples arrived at the mountain in Galilee as instructed by Jesus and then when he arrived they worshiped him. The text tells us that some doubted, but we are not told who the “some” are and what they doubted. Was the doubt among the disciples or where there others there with them that doubted, and what in particular was it that they doubted. Was the doubt in relation to Jesus himself or was it in relation to what he would do for them after he leaves?

When Jesus spoke, he refers to the things he taught them about his death and resurrection. “While I was still with you” points to the time before his death, and during that time he referred to the things written by Moses and the Prophets and things found in the Psalms about him that they would be fulfilled in him. Reference to the “Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” refers to the three divisions of the Old Testament in Jesus day. When we study the Old Testament, we continue to learn about Jesus, about the things he did before his virgin birth, and we learn about things he would do after his birth.

When Jesus began to tell his disciples that in Jerusalem he would be delivered over to the Gentiles and would be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon, and then after flogging him, they would kill him, and on the third day he would rise, they could not understand what he was saying because it was hidden from them (Luke 18:31 – 34). Unless God opens the mind and gives understanding it is not possible to understand spiritual things like this. It has been interesting to watch Peter struggle and grow in his understanding of who Jesus was and what he was to accomplish. It won’t be until Pentecost when the Holy Spirit is received will they have a full understanding.

Jesus then tells them what was written of him, what they were to do, and by what authority and power. He said to them, ⁴⁶ “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:46 – 49 ESV).

In that statement we find the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus to provide for our forgiveness. The salvation that he purchased through his death is to be proclaimed to all. That is our responsibility. To accomplish that mission, we would receive the Holy Spirit to empower us.

Conclusion

It is nearly time for the ascension of Jesus, and we find him on a mountain in Galilee explaining to his disciples that the Scriptures spoke of his death and resurrection for the purpose of our forgiveness. He charges them to deliver that message of salvation to all.