Acts 1:1-11 – What Jesus Left – Bible study

Acts 1:1-11 What Jesus Left We have four books called the gospels that all relate the birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection of Jesus, but then stop. The book of Acts picks up where the gospels leave off, telling us what happened to Jesus, the disciples, and the message of the resurrection. At the very beginning, Acts reveals to us that Jesus returned to the Fatheras He had promised. However, He did not leave the disciples with nothing. He left some things for them and for us. What did Jesus leave with us? I. \#3\ Proofs of the Resurrection A. Not only are there proofs but Luke said "many" proofs that were "infallible" or unshakeable proofs. What are some of these proofs? 1. The Empty Grave. a. I would point out first that "forty days" has passed since the resurrection. b. That would not be forty days of passivity for those who had killed Jesus. c. Witnesses would be testifying about the empty tomb and the risen Lord. (1) Perhaps not boldly on the street corners, but the rumors would be filling the country side. (2) Those who wanted to stop Jesus would certainly be wanting to stop those rumors. d. What is the best way to stop the rumors? (1) Produce a body. (2) Put a body back into that tomb and the rumors would stop. 2. The Many Witnesses a. The Bible records 13 different appearances of the risen Jesus Christ. (1) I do not know whether that is all the times Jesus appeared or not. Personally, I do not think so but I do not know. (2) It does not appear as though Jesus stayed with the disciples but rather that He appeared for a meeting and then disappeared. b. These appearances occurred in different enough places to prove that they were not a hoax. You might be able to set up a some sort of an illusion in an upper room but you could not do so on a sea side beach. c. These appearances occurred with enough people present to prove that they were not hallucinating. On one occasion, Jesus appeared to 500 at the same time. d. These appearances had a profound enough effect on those who saw them, to prove that they were not faking it. (1) Take the disciples for an example. (2) 10 of the remaining eleven were martyred for the preaching Jesus was the Christ. (3) The eleventh was John who was boiled alive in oil and should have died, but did not. He was later exiled to the island of Patmos. (4) These men all lived poor, persecuted lives. They did not profit financially from their faith. (5) What else but a risen Lord could so drastically? change these men who trembled and fled the night that Jesus was arrested? 3. The Living Church a. Yet, the effect of the resurrection was not limited to those who were the closest to Jesus and were, so to speak on the "top of ministry ladder." b. No, thousands who lived in that area during that time became followers as well. c. If there was no validity (1) to the claims that Jesus lived a holy life (2) to the claims that Jesus did the miracles (3) to the claims that Jesus was arrested, crucified, and buried (4) to the claims that Jesus rose on the third day (5) to the claims that the apostles did powerful miracles as they spread the message of Jesus resurrection d. then why did so many people follow Jesus and in turn give their lives for Jesus Christ? B. One of the greatest proofs of the resurrection is the impact it still has on peoples lives. 1. You and I live more than 2,000 years removed from the resurrection and 1/3 of the world away. 2. Most will never view the land where these things occurred and as far as I know, none of us did BEFORE we believed on them, yet we do believe. 3. Our faith has changed our lives and many have become unshakeable in our determination to complete our race with Jesus. 4. I am not sure but that Luke, when speaking of the many proofs of the resurrection, did not mean the people! 5. Every person whose life has been changed by Jesus Christ is a testimony to the resurrected Lord. II. \#4, 8\ Commands to be Obeyed A. Jesus left two commands. 1. \#4\ Wait for the coming of the Holy Ghost. a. The Holy Spirit had been promised (John 14 and 16). b. Now that Jesus was departing, it was time for Him to come. 2. \#8\ Be witnesses a. There are a lot of things that changed during the time period of the book of Acts. b. One is, "Who is going to do the work?" c. Jesus had done the preaching and teaching while He was here, but He is leaving. d. In the book of Acts, those who had witnessed what Jesus had done stepped up to take over the ministry. e. By the way, in time the responsibility passed again. (1) As those witnesses died, someone again had to take up the mantle. (2) Who did it fall to? (a) The believers (b) Those who believed that Jesus was God, came in the flesh, died on the cross, and rose from the grave (c) That is you and I. B. It makes sense that the two commands, wait and witness, would be given together. Why? 1. Because it is an impossible story to be believed without the Holy Ghost. a. Have you really considered the message we preach? It is filled with impossibilities. (1) God cares. (2) God put on flesh and came. (3) God died and was buried. (4) God arose and ascended. (5) God will save you from your sins. b. Every bit of it sounds like a made-up story. c. It takes a work of God by God the Holy Ghost for men to believe it. Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 2. Because it is impossible for the lost to care without the Holy Ghost. a. We preach an impossible story that requires faith to be believed. b. Why would men care? (1) Everyone is busy with their own lives doing the things that they enjoy doing. (2) Who wants to think about God, death, hell, or eternity? (3) Who wants their behavior to change or be changed? (4) Who wants to deny themselves and surrender control of their lives to Another? c. No one. Not on their own. It will take a work of the Holy Ghost. d. We should not be surprised that people do not want to hear our message? (1) Because of the negative Reponses, many have quit speaking for Christ altogether. (2) That is not the response we should give. (3) Rather, we should see the essential need in have the presence of the Holy Ghost of God upon us! e. By the way, it was the person of the Holy Ghost who caused the very people who had crucified Jesus to care and believe! 3. Because it is impossible for believers to care without the Holy Ghost. a. We are pretty much like the lost, busy with our lives and not wanting to be put out to share Jesus with others. b. If we arent filled with the Holy Ghost, we are going to let countless souls fall into hell without a second thought. III. \#11\ A Promise to be Believed A. Jesus promised that He would return. B. Notice what the angels said. 1. This "same Jesus" will return. a. Death wont kill Him. b. Time wont change Him. c. Business wont cause Him to delegate. d. Carelessness wont cause Him to forget. 2. He will come in "like manner." a. The angels were not talking about Jesus coming for us, the church. (1) When Jesus comes for the church, He will come as a thief in the night. (2) No one but those He came for will see Him. b. They were talking about when Jesus returns to set up His kingdom. (1) \#Rev 1:7\ Every eye shall see Him. (2) He will descend from heaven much like He ascended. (3) He will appear over Jerusalem, riding His white horse; but at some point, Jesus will dismount and descend to the top of the Mount of Olives. (4) He will return to the same place from which He left, the Mount of Olives. C. Why give this promise? 1. To comfort \#John 16:6\ 2. To challenge 3. To warn