July 15, 2025 • 18 mins
What does it mean to live in light of the resurrection? How do we, imperfect people on this side of heaven, live lives that echo eternity?
Jesus walks the shores of Galilee one last time, and reassures His beloved apostles that He will always be with them. Then, shrouded in glory, He ascends into heaven.
Today's Bible verse is Matthew 28:19-20, from the King James Version.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Matthew twenty eight nineteen. Heavenly Father,
we humbly embrace our calling to share your love and
truth with the world. Empower us to be faithful disciples,
(00:21):
spreading your message of hope and salvation every corner of
the earth. Remind us that we are never alone in
this mission, for you are with us always in every
moment until the end of time. Strengthen our resolve and
fill our hearts with your love, so that through your
(00:42):
words and actions, others may come to know the grace
and truth found in you. In Jesus name, we pray Amen.
Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to
the Jesus podcast Sagas from the Gospel told like never before.
(01:02):
Remain here to immerse yourself in the drama and wonder
of Christ's story. If you want to partner with us
in our mission to bring the Bible to life in
new ways, follow this podcast on whatever platform you're listening to.
Doing so will keep you updated, but also help us
get discovered by more people. That way, we can reach
(01:24):
the whole world with the story of Jesus. Jesus and
the eleven disciples reclined at a small table, enjoying a
meal and laughter. The room was small and humble, The
wooden table was old and rickety, and the fireplace was
worn and weathered from years of use. Yet there was
(01:48):
joy in the room, and captured within the four walls
was a majesty unseen deeply felt. The disciples laughter shook
the room as they reminisced and dreamed about the future.
Jesus was among them, listening, laughing, eating and praying. Their
(02:09):
joy was complete in the light of Christ's resurrection. Now
there was only one thing left for Jesus to do.
Clearing his throat, he lifted his voice for them to hear.
He gestured to Marry and Solommeo, were reclining at the
table beside them.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
You didn't believe those who proclaim my resurrection, did you.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
The eleven, feeling convicted and embarrassed, shook their heads. Jesus
gave them an assuring smile and said.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
My dear children, you have seen me and believed, But
blessed are those who have not yet seen and still believe.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
The disciples raised their cups in acknowledgment of the blessing
and drank.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Master.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
What are your plans now, Matthew asked, We.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Are eager to follow you wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
The disciples leaned in to hear Jesus answer. His resurrection
was mysterious, and Jesus' intentions were still unclear. Jesus looked
at his followers. They were devoted and eager. He knew
what they were expecting. They were expecting a revolution, an
upheaval of Rome, and a reformation of the temple. Yet Jesus'
(03:23):
revolution was for the heart, not the government. He did
not rise again to restore one nation to prominence, but
the entire world to God. With love in his eyes
and tender strength in his voice, he said.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Go into the world. You will proclaim the gospel to
my creation and reconcile their hearts to God. You will
be my ambassadors on the earth and proclaim the coming kingdom.
People who believe in me will be saved. However, many
will reject me and be condemned.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Where do we begin, Peter asked eagerly. Jesus' attention was
fixed on Peter. His eyes reflected pride in his dear friend,
Peter saw his future reflected in jesus gaze, a future
of strength, power, and persecution.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You begin with faith, Peter, Jesus said softly. There will
be many signs and wonders you will behold. Yet you
must wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. He
will guide you into all truth. With him counseling you.
He will be able to cast out demons, speak new tongues,
and be immune to the poisons of this world. You
(04:37):
will lay your hands on the sick as I have,
and they will be healed. Yet it all begins with faith.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Jesus placed his cup on the table and gathered the
disciples into a warm embrace.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Meet me on the mountain above Galilee in the morning, He.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Whispered, Then, just as he had done several times before, vanished.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
What does it mean to live in light of the Resurrection?
How do we imperfect people on this side of heaven
live lives that echo eternity? We begin with the Great Commission.
Welcome to the final Resurrection episode of the Jesus Podcast.
Don't worry, we have hundreds more stories for you this year.
But this is where the Resurrection story draws to a close,
(05:27):
Where Jesus ascends to heaven to be with the Father.
Before Jesus leaves, he gives his followers a final command,
a commission. This calling extends to us today. These are
the final acts and words by Jesus here on earth.
We can't afford to miss him, So let's dive in.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
The Followers of Jesus rose the following day, before sunrise,
the serene calm of dawn was interrupted by a cacophony
of people gathering at the base. Five hundred people had
come to see Jesus, each individually called to bear the
message of hope within them. The crowd followed the eleven
(06:07):
disciples up the mountain, each step taken with anticipation and fear. Peter, James,
and John were a few strides ahead of the rest.
They had once climbed up a mountain to see Jesus
transfigured in glory. Now as they reached the summit, they
didn't quite know what to expect. At the top of
(06:29):
the mountain, with the wind whistling overhead, was Jesus. He
stood there looking out at the sun, radiantly peeking over
the horizon. He turned back to his followers and smiled.
His robe and hair flew back in the wind as
he gestured for them to step closer. The Son of
(06:51):
God stood there on the mountain's edge. The radiance of
the morning sun was nothing in comparison to his glory.
Small slivers of light began to shine through his skin
like flickering flames. Hundreds of them bowed before Jesus. They
sang his name and proclaimed his mighty works to the heavens. Hallelujah.
(07:17):
They sang Hallelujah to the Son of David. For the
first time in history, a group of people gathered to
worship the risen King. They sang his praises and spoke
of his glory and grace. Their songs of hope and
salvation would resonate for a thousand generations. Peter stepped forward
(07:43):
from the rest. The ground near Jesus was pulsing like
a heartbeat. He looked up to see Jesus. When Peter
saw him, he covered his face and fell to his knees.
He now fully understood he was in the presence of
the most high God, Eloheen, the creator of the heavens
(08:06):
and the earth. He was speaking to the Great Deliverer,
the voice from the burning bush, the great I am.
He bowed before him and looked up.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Jesus, is it time for you to restore the kingdom
of Israel?
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Peter asked, is it time.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
For you to take the throne of David and claim
your authority.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Jesus looked down at Peter and walked toward him. The
earth beneath him rippled with each step. His voice resonated
with the power of God. Authority, Jesus asked with a smirk.
He stretched out his hands and said.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
All authority I have, Peter, give to you.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
He looked out at his disciples and the hundreds of
followers behind them.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
All authority I have I give to you. You will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in
all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Jesus raised his arms, voice booming with a power more
palpable than the wind.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
All authority in heaven and on earth is mine. I
hold the very power of the universe in my hands,
the power to transform and save.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Jesus's voice grew louder, and the clouds around him illuminated
with light. The crowd looked behind Jesus to see the
sun holding its place on the horizon. It became impossible
to tell where the light was coming from, the sunrise,
the clouds, or Jesus himself. Jesus's voice poured forth to
(09:49):
his followers like a thousand raging waters.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them
in the name of the Father, the Sun, and the
Holy Spirit. Teach others to observe what I've taught you,
its love, to obey, to sacrifice, and to serve.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Matthew looked and noticed that Jesus's feet were rising above
the ground.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
He's leaving.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
He and the others ran to Jesus and fell at
his feet.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Master, know, don't leave us alone. Here.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Fully immersed in the radiance of heaven, Jesus smiled, alone.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
My children, you are never alone. Behold, I will be
with you always, even to the end of time.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
And as he said this, the light fully enveloped him,
and he disappeared into the skies like a vapor. The
sun's rays fully peeked over the horizon, and the clouds
disappeared into the skies. Jesus of Nazareth, son of God
(10:57):
the Great, I Am had gone to be with his
Father in the heavens. There he would prepare a place
for them. He would map out the course of eternity
with them in mind. The King of kings would be
the architect of his kingdom on earth and in heaven.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
What does it mean to live in light of the resurrection?
We live in a polarizing time where battles for political
power or division from cultural struggles are rampant. Everyone is
trying to aggressively dominate culture with their ideology. How do we,
as believers followers of Christ function in it all? Are
we supposed to contribute to the clamoring, the arguing, the debating.
(11:47):
What are we supposed to do with this polarized and
politically charged time. Jesus came into the world during a
polarized and charged time and history occupied Palestine under the
boot of Roman oppression. It seems like an odd time
to come in and establish a new kingdom. But Jesus
didn't do any of this by accident. He the Son
of God, had chosen before all of eternity, to enter
(12:09):
in and save his creation at the perfect moment. Looked
at from our perspective, it might not seem like it
was such a great time. Israel was a conquered country,
occupied by Roman soldiers and oppressed by Roman taxes. The
Roman emperors who ruled at the time and the Jewish
leaders they used as their puppets are remembered as violent,
sadistic in demagogues. There was emperors like Caligula, Nero Herod.
(12:32):
They were all terrible in corrupt men and had their
boots on the necks of society. That's why when Jesus
is with his disciples as the resurrected king, they ask
if he's going to restore the kingdom of Israel. They
are essentially asking if Jesus is going to storm Rome
as the resurrected ruler of the world and take the throne.
(12:52):
The answer is yes and no. Jesus said to them,
it is not for you to know the time or
the dates the Father has by his own afort. But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, Judaea, and
Samarian to the ends of the earth. It's not hard
to notice that when Jesus is asked, is it time
to take power and create God's kingdom here on earth?
(13:14):
Jesus answers that he wants them to preach the gospel,
convert people, and to grow the numbers of disciples all
throughout the world. He says, all authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and
make disciples of all nation, baptizing them and the name
of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, And
surely I am with you always, even to the end
(13:36):
of the age. Yet today, even among believers with high
view of scripture in Jesus's words and their Red letter Bibles,
these sweeping commands from our Savior to evangelize rather than
to seek political clout are being brushed aside as irrelevant
in favor of other pursuits that are touted as more necessary, relevant,
or appropriate to highly charge political culture in which we
(13:58):
now exist. See the Church often getting lost in political
battles of occupation and regime change. That's the way of Caesar,
It's not the way of Jesus. His rule was upside
down to the dominating, oppressive and aggressive culture to the
kingdoms and conquerors. He wasn't After the throne of Caesar,
to Jesus, that was too small of an accomplishment. He
(14:19):
wanted the souls of mankind. And what does it look
like for a redeemed soul to go in and conquer
the world. Well, it looks upside down to what the
world preaches. The world says, hate your enemies, but Jesus says,
love your enemies. The world says strike back, but Jesus says,
turn the cheek. The Great Commission charges us to change
(14:40):
the world, one heart at a time, with the character, words,
and power of Jesus. What was that evangelistic strategy for
the disciples who existed in the even more hostile and
marginized culture. It was to spread the Gospel message in
any and every opportunity they had. They wanted to proclaim
the crucified and res and Lord, may we never abandon
(15:02):
the Great Commission in order to gain control of culture
and seize power. As we have seen, Jesus's disciples were
asking when he was going to restore the Kingdom of God.
Their question was correct, but the intent behind their question
was wrong. They wanted to know when Jesus was going
to take the throne and establish an earthly kingdom, not
(15:22):
understanding and perceiving that the Kingdom was going to be
established in their hearts, and it was going to be
shown in the way they treated the poor and the marginalized.
It was going to be displayed in the way they
brought in the orphans and widows. It was going to
be revealed in the way they preached the hope of
Jesus to the masses. It is the great tradition of
false prophets who tell us to battle against earthly powers
(15:43):
and earthly regimes. But Scripture explicitly tells us that we're
not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the powers
and principalities and ideologies that would hinder people from the
love of God. We are to serve not to rule
or to influence in this world, but rather as imitators
of Christ, serving the world, lifting it up so it
(16:04):
would see and glorify Jesus. What does that look like
for us today? It looks like establishing a community of
people transformed by the Gospel, face planting through life, still
but repenting, continually growing and being sanctified into the image
of Christ, serving the people around us, extending hands to
(16:24):
the broken, extending an encouraging word to those who are
lost in despair, the kind of community that's fueled by
the power of God, continually glorifying Jesus. In Romans twelve nine,
were told that our love must be sincere. We must
hate what is evil, cling to what is good. We
must be devoted to one another in love, honoring each other,
(16:45):
never lacking in zeal, but with spiritual fervor, serving the
Lord and those around us. We want to be joyful
in hope, patient and affliction, faithful in prayer and sharing
the Lord with people in need, and bringing peace and
hospitality wherever we go. Told not to repay anyone evil
for evil, but rather to bless those who persecute us.
We're told to feed our enemy when they're hungry. We're
(17:07):
told to give them water when they're thirsty. In doing so,
we will establish a much greater kingdom than that of
Caesar than that of Rome. The Gospel comes equipped with
the power of the Holy Spirit of Jesus to change hearts.
Each individual hearts submitted to and changed by the Gospel
will eventually create a community that looks like the Kingdom
of God. No other message has either that dynamic or
(17:30):
that joy. Today, be people of the Great Commission go
out there and baptize people in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them about the
character of Jesus. Live life with people, but don't be
succumbed to the darkness of the world. Be people of hope,
restored out of shame, and mobilized for something great. Thanks
(17:52):
for joining us on the road to the Resurrection. In
our next episode, we are going to explore a new
little miniseries through Christ Parables. Will enter in to dramatize
parables told in a way that you have never heard before.
In so doing, we'll learn more about the kingdom that
we just spoke of. How do we exist as kingdom citizens?
Buckle up. The Jesus Podcast is just getting started and
(18:15):
it's only going to get better from here.
Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit. Matthew twenty eight nineteen. Heavenly Father,
we humbly embrace our calling to share your love and
truth with the world. Empower us to be faithful disciples,
(00:21):
spreading your message of hope and salvation every corner of
the earth. Remind us that we are never alone in
this mission, for you are with us always in every
moment until the end of time. Strengthen our resolve and
fill our hearts with your love, so that through your
(00:42):
words and actions, others may come to know the grace
and truth found in you. In Jesus name, we pray Amen.
Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to
the Jesus podcast Sagas from the Gospel told like never before.
(01:02):
Remain here to immerse yourself in the drama and wonder
of Christ's story. If you want to partner with us
in our mission to bring the Bible to life in
new ways, follow this podcast on whatever platform you're listening to.
Doing so will keep you updated, but also help us
get discovered by more people. That way, we can reach
(01:24):
the whole world with the story of Jesus. Jesus and
the eleven disciples reclined at a small table, enjoying a
meal and laughter. The room was small and humble, The
wooden table was old and rickety, and the fireplace was
worn and weathered from years of use. Yet there was
(01:48):
joy in the room, and captured within the four walls
was a majesty unseen deeply felt. The disciples laughter shook
the room as they reminisced and dreamed about the future.
Jesus was among them, listening, laughing, eating and praying. Their
(02:09):
joy was complete in the light of Christ's resurrection. Now
there was only one thing left for Jesus to do.
Clearing his throat, he lifted his voice for them to hear.
He gestured to Marry and Solommeo, were reclining at the
table beside them.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
You didn't believe those who proclaim my resurrection, did you.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
The eleven, feeling convicted and embarrassed, shook their heads. Jesus
gave them an assuring smile and said.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
My dear children, you have seen me and believed, But
blessed are those who have not yet seen and still believe.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
The disciples raised their cups in acknowledgment of the blessing
and drank.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Master.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
What are your plans now, Matthew asked, We.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
Are eager to follow you wherever you go.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
The disciples leaned in to hear Jesus answer. His resurrection
was mysterious, and Jesus' intentions were still unclear. Jesus looked
at his followers. They were devoted and eager. He knew
what they were expecting. They were expecting a revolution, an
upheaval of Rome, and a reformation of the temple. Yet Jesus'
(03:23):
revolution was for the heart, not the government. He did
not rise again to restore one nation to prominence, but
the entire world to God. With love in his eyes
and tender strength in his voice, he said.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Go into the world. You will proclaim the gospel to
my creation and reconcile their hearts to God. You will
be my ambassadors on the earth and proclaim the coming kingdom.
People who believe in me will be saved. However, many
will reject me and be condemned.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Where do we begin, Peter asked eagerly. Jesus' attention was
fixed on Peter. His eyes reflected pride in his dear friend,
Peter saw his future reflected in jesus gaze, a future
of strength, power, and persecution.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
You begin with faith, Peter, Jesus said softly. There will
be many signs and wonders you will behold. Yet you
must wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. He
will guide you into all truth. With him counseling you.
He will be able to cast out demons, speak new tongues,
and be immune to the poisons of this world. You
(04:37):
will lay your hands on the sick as I have,
and they will be healed. Yet it all begins with faith.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Jesus placed his cup on the table and gathered the
disciples into a warm embrace.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Meet me on the mountain above Galilee in the morning, He.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Whispered, Then, just as he had done several times before, vanished.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
What does it mean to live in light of the Resurrection?
How do we imperfect people on this side of heaven
live lives that echo eternity? We begin with the Great Commission.
Welcome to the final Resurrection episode of the Jesus Podcast.
Don't worry, we have hundreds more stories for you this year.
But this is where the Resurrection story draws to a close,
(05:27):
Where Jesus ascends to heaven to be with the Father.
Before Jesus leaves, he gives his followers a final command,
a commission. This calling extends to us today. These are
the final acts and words by Jesus here on earth.
We can't afford to miss him, So let's dive in.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
The Followers of Jesus rose the following day, before sunrise,
the serene calm of dawn was interrupted by a cacophony
of people gathering at the base. Five hundred people had
come to see Jesus, each individually called to bear the
message of hope within them. The crowd followed the eleven
(06:07):
disciples up the mountain, each step taken with anticipation and fear. Peter, James,
and John were a few strides ahead of the rest.
They had once climbed up a mountain to see Jesus
transfigured in glory. Now as they reached the summit, they
didn't quite know what to expect. At the top of
(06:29):
the mountain, with the wind whistling overhead, was Jesus. He
stood there looking out at the sun, radiantly peeking over
the horizon. He turned back to his followers and smiled.
His robe and hair flew back in the wind as
he gestured for them to step closer. The Son of
(06:51):
God stood there on the mountain's edge. The radiance of
the morning sun was nothing in comparison to his glory.
Small slivers of light began to shine through his skin
like flickering flames. Hundreds of them bowed before Jesus. They
sang his name and proclaimed his mighty works to the heavens. Hallelujah.
(07:17):
They sang Hallelujah to the Son of David. For the
first time in history, a group of people gathered to
worship the risen King. They sang his praises and spoke
of his glory and grace. Their songs of hope and
salvation would resonate for a thousand generations. Peter stepped forward
(07:43):
from the rest. The ground near Jesus was pulsing like
a heartbeat. He looked up to see Jesus. When Peter
saw him, he covered his face and fell to his knees.
He now fully understood he was in the presence of
the most high God, Eloheen, the creator of the heavens
(08:06):
and the earth. He was speaking to the Great Deliverer,
the voice from the burning bush, the great I am.
He bowed before him and looked up.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
Jesus, is it time for you to restore the kingdom
of Israel?
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Peter asked, is it time.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
For you to take the throne of David and claim
your authority.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Jesus looked down at Peter and walked toward him. The
earth beneath him rippled with each step. His voice resonated
with the power of God. Authority, Jesus asked with a smirk.
He stretched out his hands and said.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
All authority I have, Peter, give to you.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
He looked out at his disciples and the hundreds of
followers behind them.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
All authority I have I give to you. You will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in
all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Jesus raised his arms, voice booming with a power more
palpable than the wind.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
All authority in heaven and on earth is mine. I
hold the very power of the universe in my hands,
the power to transform and save.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Jesus's voice grew louder, and the clouds around him illuminated
with light. The crowd looked behind Jesus to see the
sun holding its place on the horizon. It became impossible
to tell where the light was coming from, the sunrise,
the clouds, or Jesus himself. Jesus's voice poured forth to
(09:49):
his followers like a thousand raging waters.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them
in the name of the Father, the Sun, and the
Holy Spirit. Teach others to observe what I've taught you,
its love, to obey, to sacrifice, and to serve.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Matthew looked and noticed that Jesus's feet were rising above
the ground.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
He's leaving.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
He and the others ran to Jesus and fell at
his feet.
Speaker 2 (10:20):
Master, know, don't leave us alone. Here.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Fully immersed in the radiance of heaven, Jesus smiled, alone.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
My children, you are never alone. Behold, I will be
with you always, even to the end of time.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
And as he said this, the light fully enveloped him,
and he disappeared into the skies like a vapor. The
sun's rays fully peeked over the horizon, and the clouds
disappeared into the skies. Jesus of Nazareth, son of God
(10:57):
the Great, I Am had gone to be with his
Father in the heavens. There he would prepare a place
for them. He would map out the course of eternity
with them in mind. The King of kings would be
the architect of his kingdom on earth and in heaven.
Speaker 3 (11:24):
What does it mean to live in light of the resurrection?
We live in a polarizing time where battles for political
power or division from cultural struggles are rampant. Everyone is
trying to aggressively dominate culture with their ideology. How do we,
as believers followers of Christ function in it all? Are
we supposed to contribute to the clamoring, the arguing, the debating.
(11:47):
What are we supposed to do with this polarized and
politically charged time. Jesus came into the world during a
polarized and charged time and history occupied Palestine under the
boot of Roman oppression. It seems like an odd time
to come in and establish a new kingdom. But Jesus
didn't do any of this by accident. He the Son
of God, had chosen before all of eternity, to enter
(12:09):
in and save his creation at the perfect moment. Looked
at from our perspective, it might not seem like it
was such a great time. Israel was a conquered country,
occupied by Roman soldiers and oppressed by Roman taxes. The
Roman emperors who ruled at the time and the Jewish
leaders they used as their puppets are remembered as violent,
sadistic in demagogues. There was emperors like Caligula, Nero Herod.
(12:32):
They were all terrible in corrupt men and had their
boots on the necks of society. That's why when Jesus
is with his disciples as the resurrected king, they ask
if he's going to restore the kingdom of Israel. They
are essentially asking if Jesus is going to storm Rome
as the resurrected ruler of the world and take the throne.
(12:52):
The answer is yes and no. Jesus said to them,
it is not for you to know the time or
the dates the Father has by his own afort. But
you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witness in Jerusalem, Judaea, and
Samarian to the ends of the earth. It's not hard
to notice that when Jesus is asked, is it time
to take power and create God's kingdom here on earth?
(13:14):
Jesus answers that he wants them to preach the gospel,
convert people, and to grow the numbers of disciples all
throughout the world. He says, all authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and
make disciples of all nation, baptizing them and the name
of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you, And
surely I am with you always, even to the end
(13:36):
of the age. Yet today, even among believers with high
view of scripture in Jesus's words and their Red letter Bibles,
these sweeping commands from our Savior to evangelize rather than
to seek political clout are being brushed aside as irrelevant
in favor of other pursuits that are touted as more necessary, relevant,
or appropriate to highly charge political culture in which we
(13:58):
now exist. See the Church often getting lost in political
battles of occupation and regime change. That's the way of Caesar,
It's not the way of Jesus. His rule was upside
down to the dominating, oppressive and aggressive culture to the
kingdoms and conquerors. He wasn't After the throne of Caesar,
to Jesus, that was too small of an accomplishment. He
(14:19):
wanted the souls of mankind. And what does it look
like for a redeemed soul to go in and conquer
the world. Well, it looks upside down to what the
world preaches. The world says, hate your enemies, but Jesus says,
love your enemies. The world says strike back, but Jesus says,
turn the cheek. The Great Commission charges us to change
(14:40):
the world, one heart at a time, with the character, words,
and power of Jesus. What was that evangelistic strategy for
the disciples who existed in the even more hostile and
marginized culture. It was to spread the Gospel message in
any and every opportunity they had. They wanted to proclaim
the crucified and res and Lord, may we never abandon
(15:02):
the Great Commission in order to gain control of culture
and seize power. As we have seen, Jesus's disciples were
asking when he was going to restore the Kingdom of God.
Their question was correct, but the intent behind their question
was wrong. They wanted to know when Jesus was going
to take the throne and establish an earthly kingdom, not
(15:22):
understanding and perceiving that the Kingdom was going to be
established in their hearts, and it was going to be
shown in the way they treated the poor and the marginalized.
It was going to be displayed in the way they
brought in the orphans and widows. It was going to
be revealed in the way they preached the hope of
Jesus to the masses. It is the great tradition of
false prophets who tell us to battle against earthly powers
(15:43):
and earthly regimes. But Scripture explicitly tells us that we're
not fighting against flesh and blood, but against the powers
and principalities and ideologies that would hinder people from the
love of God. We are to serve not to rule
or to influence in this world, but rather as imitators
of Christ, serving the world, lifting it up so it
(16:04):
would see and glorify Jesus. What does that look like
for us today? It looks like establishing a community of
people transformed by the Gospel, face planting through life, still
but repenting, continually growing and being sanctified into the image
of Christ, serving the people around us, extending hands to
(16:24):
the broken, extending an encouraging word to those who are
lost in despair, the kind of community that's fueled by
the power of God, continually glorifying Jesus. In Romans twelve nine,
were told that our love must be sincere. We must
hate what is evil, cling to what is good. We
must be devoted to one another in love, honoring each other,
(16:45):
never lacking in zeal, but with spiritual fervor, serving the
Lord and those around us. We want to be joyful
in hope, patient and affliction, faithful in prayer and sharing
the Lord with people in need, and bringing peace and
hospitality wherever we go. Told not to repay anyone evil
for evil, but rather to bless those who persecute us.
We're told to feed our enemy when they're hungry. We're
(17:07):
told to give them water when they're thirsty. In doing so,
we will establish a much greater kingdom than that of
Caesar than that of Rome. The Gospel comes equipped with
the power of the Holy Spirit of Jesus to change hearts.
Each individual hearts submitted to and changed by the Gospel
will eventually create a community that looks like the Kingdom
of God. No other message has either that dynamic or
(17:30):
that joy. Today, be people of the Great Commission go
out there and baptize people in the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teach them about the
character of Jesus. Live life with people, but don't be
succumbed to the darkness of the world. Be people of hope,
restored out of shame, and mobilized for something great. Thanks
(17:52):
for joining us on the road to the Resurrection. In
our next episode, we are going to explore a new
little miniseries through Christ Parables. Will enter in to dramatize
parables told in a way that you have never heard before.
In so doing, we'll learn more about the kingdom that
we just spoke of. How do we exist as kingdom citizens?
Buckle up. The Jesus Podcast is just getting started and
(18:15):
it's only going to get better from here.
Host
Zak Shellabarger
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