Jesus’ Continuing Ministry

MATTHEW 28:18-20—Jesus’ ministry, or service to mankind did not end at Calvary. When the great men of earth die their careers come to an end, but with Jesus it was different. His sacrificial death was in reality but the beginning of other work. His death laid the foundation for the reconciliation and salvation of all who, when given a full opportunity, would believe on him. One of the comprehensive statements of Jesus’ ministry is given by the Apostle Paul who informs us that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself.” He then adds, “And hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”—II Cor. 5:19

Paul further explains that we have been made “ambassadors for Christ.” (II Cor. 5:20) In other words, we represent Christ in the work of reconciliation which God is accomplishing through him, for God has “given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” (II Cor. 5:18) It was this wonderful work that was to be given to the church that Jesus is telling his disciples about in the lesson passage under consideration.

Jesus gave the disciples two very reassuring thoughts when outlining the commission of service for which they were to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. He said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth,” and then added, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [age].” To the extent the disciples could grasp the import of these words it must have made them realize that regardless of the hardships involved in the work of going into all the world to preach the Gospel, they would not lack for strength and guidance, for their Master was to be with them, and all power had been given to him.

Jesus’ assurance that he would be with the disciples always, even to the end of the age, does not militate against the fact of his personal return at his second advent. Rather, by telling them that now he had all power in heaven and in earth, and that he would be with them, he was merely conveying to their minds that they should think of his presence with them during the age in the same sense as they had been accustomed to thinking of the presence of Jehovah.

And what a wonderful opportunity for service the Master outlined for them—to teach all nations, baptizing the believers “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”! The commission to “teach all nations” must be understood in the light of a former commission Jesus had given to his disciples, the one in which he specifically told them not to go to the Gentiles, nor to any city of the Samaritans. (Matt. 10:5) Now he was telling them in effect that these restrictions were removed, and that they were free to go anywhere and to preach the Gospel to anyone who had a hearing ear. The intent of the new commission was not that they should expect to convert all nations, but that the whole world was to be their field of activity—beginning at Jerusalem.

ACTS 1:4-14—The disciples were instructed by Jesus not to embark on their world-wide ministry until they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit. Should they undertake this ministry without the Holy Spirit, they would be entering the field of service without the presence of the Master; for his promise to be with them was to find fulfillment through the Holy Spirit which he would “shed forth” upon them.

Their question concerning the time when the kingdom of Israel would be restored indicates that as yet their vision of the divine plan was not too clear. They were still over-emphasizing in their minds the thought of Israel’s near deliverance from the Roman yoke of bondage, and of their own exaltation with Jesus in an earthly kingdom. It was in God’s plan for Israel to be restored, but the time was so far distant from their day that it would have been very discouraging to tell them; so Jesus kindly put their question aside without a direct answer saying simply that God ‘had put the times and seasons of the divine plan in his own power.

Reaffirming that after a brief period of waiting at Jerusalem they would receive the promised power from on high, and that then they were to be his witnesses, his ambassadors, unto the uttermost parts of the earth, he left them, ascending into the heavens where a cloud received him out of their sight. What an experience this last meeting with their Master must have been! He both comforted them, and then broke their hearts by parting from them in such a way as to leave no doubt in their minds that he was not to return and visit with them in the way he had been doing since his resurrection—that there was finality in this departure.

And there they stood, gazing up into the heavens as though hoping that their very gazing would bring back their Lord. Instead, two men took places beside these bewildered and saddened disciples, and said, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

“This same Jesus”—the post-resurrection Jesus, and so different from the Jesus with whom the disciples had enjoyed sweet companionship and mutual service prior to his crucifixion, before he had given his flesh for the life of the world. This Jesus whom they had just seen go into heaven had not been with them sufficiently to permit their becoming familiar with his characteristics. Almost every time they saw him, he was different, so different that they seldom recognized him at all by his appearance. He could come into a room with the doors shut and locked. He could vanish out of their sight. And now they had witnessed him ascend into the sky and disappear behind the clouds.

And it was “this Jesus” that was to return—this Jesus who could not be seen by human eyes except as he specially revealed himself. And he was to come in “like manner.” The manner of his going was quiet, and unobserved except by his immediate disciples; and, the prophecies reveal—what we now know has become a fact—that when he would return his consecrated followers would at first be the only ones who would know it.

After receiving this message from the angels, the disciples returned to Jerusalem, where they continued in prayer, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. This was a wonderful way to wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise; and how greatly it must have helped to prepare their hearts for the blessing that was to come.

QUESTIONS

For what great ministry did Jesus come into the world?

How has that ministry continued throughout the Gospel age?

In what sense has Jesus been with his church throughout the Gospel age?

Did Jesus expect that his followers would convert all nations?

Why was it necessary for the disciples to wait until they received the Holy Spirit before beginning their ministry?

How was Jesus’ return in “like manner” to his going away?

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