In previous lessons we have looked at Jesus from many different angles.  Although Jesus was with God before the world began and was responsible for creating it, he came to earth as a human being with a purpose: to save mankind.  The Scriptures confirm that Jesus lived a sinless life.  He was murdered for our sins: he paid a price he did not owe to save humanity which was hopeless, helpless and unable to pay themselves.  If that were the end of the story, the story would be insufficient and incomplete.

JESUS’ RESURRECTION:

What happened next was amazing!  Jesus was resurrected from the dead by the power of Jehovah.  Romans 1:4 tells us that Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.”  The resurrection of Jesus proved, declared, shows that Jesus was who he claimed to be, that is, the Son of God.  Without the resurrection, Jesus would have been just another good man who died but with the resurrection Jesus proved every claim he made was true.

JESUS’ POWER AND AUTHORITY:

After Jesus’ resurrection, God did something else of great importance.  He gave all power and authority to Jesus.  In Matthew 28:18 Jesus told his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  These words affirm what the Scriptures in Philippians 2:9–11: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  THE ONLY THING NOT SUBJECTED TO CHRIST’S AUTHORITY IS GOD HIMSELF: “For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘all things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him” (1 Corinthians 15:27 ESV).  This power will remain Christ’s until the end of this present age: “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:24–26 ESV).

JESUS’ GREAT COMMISSION:

Because he had accomplished his task of making salvation available to all and all authority had been given to him, Jesus commanded his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20 ESV).

JESUS’ ASCENSION:

 Shortly after these words were given to his apostles, Jesus ascended into heaven. Acts 1:9–11 tells us what happened: “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’”