Monday | 17 February 2025
In the Upper Room, on the day of His resurrection, Christ commissioned His disciples and sent them into the world to be His messengers, saying, ‘As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ Joh 20:21. This commission had come from God the Father, for Jesus told Mary Magdalene, when she met Him at the garden tomb, that the apostles were His ‘brethren’. He further said that as God was His Father so also were they sons of the Father, making them sons of God. Joh 20:17-23. As sons of God, they, like Him, were now sent into the world to make disciples for Christ.
Although the disciples were adopted as sons and were born of the divine nature, they were unable to discharge the commission that they had received from Christ, for they had not yet been baptised with the Holy Spirit. Act 1:8. Accordingly, the New Covenant of the Spirit had not yet commenced. Prior to His ascension to be seated at the right hand of the Father, Jesus personally ministered as the Head of His church for forty days and forty nights. During this time, He appeared in His spiritual body to over 500 brethren. 1Co 15:6. However, the disciples were not, at this time, engaged in this ministry.
On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples and those who were with them were ‘filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance’. Act 2:1-4. They received ‘power from on high’ to be witnesses of the Spirit of Christ in Jerusalem, in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Act 1:8. Luk 24:49. Significantly, they were enabled to proclaim the mystery of Christ. As a hearer received and believed this message, they could be born again and be built into the New Jerusalem upon the twelve foundations of the apostles. Rev 21:14.
Further Study:
ACTS 2
References:
Joh 20:17-23
Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So, Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
Act 1:8
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
1Co 15:6
After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
Act 2:1-4
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Luk 24:49
Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.
Rev 21:14
Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.