By Tyshawn Gardner, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, Samford University
The Mission of Jesus Shared
Luke 24:44–53
After Jesus had risen from the dead, He appeared to the disciples and explained how the Scriptures had always testified about Him.
Then Jesus told them of their responsibility to share in His mission by spreading the good news of repentance and forgiveness of sins. The first disciples gladly accepted this responsibility and with great joy they worshipped the risen Christ who ascended into heaven.
The whole of Scripture points to the truth of Jesus. (44–53)
The first followers of Christ followed the Old Testament, which was comprised of the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. They are the same books of the Old Testament we enjoy today, although some of the books were in a different order.
Many of the Jews did not understand their Scripture through a Christological lens. They did not understand that select passages pointed to the future Messiah.
Passages such as Psalm 16:8–11, Psalm 49:13–15, Psalm 71:20, Isaiah 26:19–20, Isaiah 53:10–11 and many more not only point to Christ, but they also point to His resurrection.
In the same way, we must know the Old Testament should be read in light of our New Testament. As Christians we believe that both the Old Testament and the New Testament are the Word of God.
When we understand our Bible in this way, we understand that the resurrection was always in God’s plan.
The cross and empty tomb are central to the gospel of Jesus. (46–47)
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, Paul reminds us we are to be pitied and hopeless (1 Cor. 15:19). Jesus suffered at the hands of the Roman government and was crucified.
The crucifixion was used by God as the divine purpose for the atonement for the sins of all mankind. By the plan and power of God, Jesus was raised from the dead.
The cross and the empty tomb are central to the gospel of Jesus Christ. While we preach the cross, we must also proclaim the resurrection.
This message signals God’s victory over death and the grave. Moreover, the cross and the empty tomb are a message for Christians who suffer in this life.
The power of God that raised Jesus Christ is also available to us in every circumstance, and ultimately that same power will raise up our mortal bodies.
We have been equipped to share the message about Jesus. (48–53)
Commissioned by the resurrected Christ, the disciples were to go into all the nations to preach repentance and forgiveness of sin.
Christ explains how they will be equipped through the power of the Holy Spirit to share the good news. This profound promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit brought immediate comfort to the disciples.
May the commissioning of the disciples serve as a welcomed reminder to every Christian about our responsibility to share the good news. May we do so in the power that raised Jesus from the dead. He is risen. Run and share the good news!
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