Lesson Scripture: Luke 24:44-53
Bible Truth: We must share our testimony of how Christ Redeemed us.
Timeline: Our present calendar and dating system is centered around the coming of Christ. The purpose of the BC / AD dating system was to make the birth of Jesus Christ the dividing point of world history. A.D. stands for Anno Domino which is Latin for “In the year of our Lord“. So “0 A.D.” is the year of Jesus’ birth. Therefore, if Jesus lived to be 33, he died around 33 A.D. Our lesson takes place around 30 A.D. (give or take a few years.) You can find representation of this time in the “Jesus’ Life and Ministry” section.
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Need to know notes: . After the Resurrection, Jesus shows Himself to the Disciples many times over a period of 40 days, giving them concrete proof that He was indeed alive Act 1:3.
Our Lesson: You Are Witnesses
Commentator: Deac. William Goss, Missionary Venita Turner, Missionary Annetta Barnes
Deac. William Goss
Today’s lesson is entitled “You are witnesses”, and that’s what we are, witnesses to the fact of how great God is and the power He holds. Luke 24:48 says “And ye are witnesses of these things”. The followers of Jesus got a firsthand account being eyewitnesses to Gods saving work through Jesus Christ. Their job was to interpret without error. There are a lot of people out here today that don’t know or understand the power of God, or recognize Him when He moves, they may call it luck but it has nothing to do with luck. They need an interpreter to help them understand. That’s when we come in, but first we have to know Him for ourselves. Do you know Him?
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Missionary Annetta Barnes
Jesus came to die so that we wouldn’t be lost, meaning not being able to come back into fellowship with God. He called 12 disciples. The word disciple means to follow. The twelve followed Jesus before his death, watching, learning, communing with him. They truly didn’t understand everything that was going on at that time. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He stayed with them for an additional 40 days to continue to teach and help them better understand more about Him. He was getting ready to commission them to spread the Gospel, the good news of salvation. They were no longer called disciples, but now apostles, meaning they were special messengers of Jesus Christ. By now, Judas was no longer a disciple because he had committed suicide after betraying Jesus. They replaced him with Matthias and ‘circle’ was complete again. Since they were to tell others about Jesus, then they themselves would have to be able to understand who He was. Jesus opened up their understanding about him and assured them that once he ascended back to his father, that he would not leave them without a guide or comfortless. The only thing they had to do was wait for the promise in Jerusalem. Once they received the promise, the Holy Ghost, then they would be empowered to share the ‘Good News’ with boldness.
As is with us today, in order to share Jesus with others, we must first know who He is. We learn the truth about Jesus by reading about Him and His life in the Word, the Bible. Once we know Jesus, we too have a commission to teach it to others. We are empowered by the Holy Ghost to do this. The Holy Ghost is our comforter and guide. He is the promise of Jesus that helps us tell others about Him.
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Missionary Venita Turner
Last weeks lesson “Jesus Lives for Us” is in the first part of this chapter. Let’s re-cap. Jesus had been crucified and buried in a tomb. On the 1st day of the week Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matthew 28:1) had come to the tomb bringing spices. As they approached the tomb they found the stone rolled away and they entered to find the tomb empty. Jesus’ body was no where to be found. As they wondered in astonishment two men stood by in shining garments (angels). The angels asked them why were they looking for the living among the dead? He is RISEN! The angels reminded them how Jesus spoke of these things in Galilee. They returned and told the eleven disciples and others of the events that occurred, but they were in disbelief. Peter went to see for himself and found the linen clothes laid by themselves…now wondering to himself at that which was come to pass.
Background
Jesus appeared unto two believers traveling to Emmaus which was seven miles from Jerusalem. They were discussing the events that had taken place with Jesus’ death and now his body was missing. When Jesus appeared unto them, Jesus concealed his identity until the time was right. Jesus began to question the two believers on the events that had taken place as if he didn’t know anything about it. The one believer Cleopas asked “ Venitaology…I know you are a stranger, but haven’t you heard what has happened to Jesus? This was Passover week and all the Jews far and near were in the city from the Roman Empire. Everyone had heard. So they began to tell Jesus the events that took place and they’re uncertainty. Jesus began to explain that the scriptures from the Old Testament beginning with Moses had to be fulfilled. Scripture states that the Messiah would have to suffer, die and rise on the third day. When they arrived at their destination and Jesus finished explaining the scripture to them Jesus revealed himself to the two believers and they knew him and Jesus vanished out of their sight. Oh how happy they were to know that JESUS IS ALIVE! Oh how their hearts burned with joy. They couldn’t wait to return to Jerusalem to tell the others. Jesus appeared to the disciples behind closed doors…
Lesson
Jesus communed with them and continued to talk with them explaining the scriptures as it pertained to his life, death and resurrection. He was with them 40 days before ascending into heaven. Jesus explained how he wanted them to be witnesses to Jerusalem and unto the other most parts of the world, but first they must wait to be endured with power from on high (Acts 1:8) to be able to witness effectively, not to be afraid of the peoples faces and to have holy boldness. The disciples were first account witnesses of the events of Jesus life, death and resurrection. They were to teach repentance and the remission of sins in the name of Jesus beginning in Jerusalem. Knowing how Jesus was crucified because of his teachings they needed the power of the Holy Ghost to lead and guide them….to give them a discerning spirit to be one step ahead of the enemy. I could only imagine after seeing Jesus crucified that horrible death, so grief stricken not thinking on what he had taught us so many times and just days before regarding his resurrection, then to find his tomb empty…HALLELUJAH! I think I would’ve started shouting for joy!!!!! I would have been mad at the other disciples after telling them I found an empty tomb for them to say they didn’t believe me.
Alright Mother Gwin’s class…John 8:31 & 32…Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Let’s stay in his word so Jesus can help us tell others about him.
