God's Word for Me Today
Tuesday, September 18, 2001
Focus: Our Mission With The World
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, I thank You again today that You are a missionary God, and that You came to us to give us new life and salvation through Jesus. Open my life to Your Word this day that I may be all that You have created and designed me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Luke 24:35-53
35Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” 37But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38“Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why do you doubt who I am? 39Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do!” 40As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his feet.
41Still they stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he ate it as they watched.
44Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand these many Scriptures. 46And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah must suffer and die and rise again from the dead on the third day. 47With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘there is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.’ 48You are witnesses of all these things.
49“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
50Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.
Questions for Reflection
Think of a time when you and a friend or relative saw a significant or amazing event. When you told someone else of what you had seen or experienced, how were the stories the same? How were they different? How do you account for these differences?
What do you think it would be like if you had a photographic memory, and could remember everything that you ever saw or read?
Questions for Exploration
What are Jesus’ first words to the disciples when he appears to them? What is their response? (22:35-37)
What evidence does Jesus “produce” to show the disciples that He is who He says He is? (22:38-40)
What is Jesus’ plan for his message of repentance to be shared with the world? (22:46-49) KEY VERSE
Questions for Understanding
Had you been in the room when Jesus’ appeared, how do you think your response would have been similar to or different from the disciples’?
Why do you suppose Jesus asked the disciples for something to eat?
Jesus opened the disciples’ minds to understand the Scriptures. How does He do this in our lives today?
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, but the disciples didn’t received Him at that moment. It wasn’t until ten days later. Why do you think Jesus made His followers way for the Spirit, instead of letting them start their ministry at that moment?
Questions for Application
What can we do in practical terms to remember the Scriptures that we have already read? In addition to human learning and remembering techniques, what role does the Holy Spirit play?
What role does trust play in your daily living out of your relationship with Jesus? What one thing can you do right now to increase your trust in Jesus?
The Great Commission or the Great Commissions!
Each of the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—and the Book of Acts contains a “Great Commission” passage. Each of them contains common elements—a call to take the Good News of Jesus to the world, a call to rely on the Holy Spirit, and a promise of Jesus’ presence with His followers. But there the similarities end. Each account emphasizes different components of Jesus commission. Matthew emphasizes “making disciples,” and baptizing them in the triune name of God—“in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Mark emphasizes the connection between believing, baptism and salvation. Luke focuses on the importance of repentance, or turning away from our sins, in the Good News message. John focuses on receiving the Holy Spirit. Acts, which was written by Luke, focuses on our being witnesses for Jesus and on waiting for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. So do we have a “Great Commission” or do we have “Great Commissions”? Do the “contradictions” in the records indicate that the writers were just making things up? Far from it! Actually, the common message makes it obvious that the four writers were all emphasizing one commission from Jesus. Each was led by the Holy Spirit to focus on particular details that differed and would be important to their particular readers.
When the four Gospels and the Book of Acts were compiled into one collection of books that became part of the Bible, it became evident to believers that the richness and fullness of Jesus’ teachings are best derived from a thorough reading of ALL the Gospel material, rather than through any one. If every detail of every Gospel account was exactly the same, then we would have cause for concern. After all, if four witnesses see any event, their record of the details is never exactly the same. We usually assume if they are that the four got together and made up the account.
If you want to read an excellent book testifying to the validity of the Gospel accounts, and of Jesus’ claim to be God, The Case for Christ, By Lee Strobel is a must read. Strobel was an investigative reporter for the Chicago tribune AND an atheist, before he investigated the claims of Jesus for himself. Strobel is now a devoted follower of Jesus and an “apologist,” one who offers logical and reasonable defense of the truth of Christianity.
To view the studies for other days, visit the God's Word for Me Today calendar.