Promise of Power

KEY VERSE: “Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” —Luke 24:49

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:36-53

OUR LESSON BEGINS shortly after Jesus had been crucified and resurrected from the dead. Two of his disciples were on the road to Emmaus and were discussing the events of the past several weeks when a stranger approached and asked why they were so sad. Their reply was, “Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?”—Luke 24:18

After they had related to the ‘stranger’ those heart-rendering things that had transpired to their beloved Jesus, he said unto them, “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27) Later, Jesus appeared to his disciples in Jerusalem and “opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,” and instructed them, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”—Luke 24:45,49

On the Day of Pentecost, this promise of power from on high was fulfilled as the disciples were all gathered in one place. When the evidence of this power was given, “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”—Acts 2:3,4

Ever since that day, all those called and chosen of God receive the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit or ‘power from on high’. This power guides them into the understanding of every truth due to be understood and to show them things to come.

When the glorified Jesus met with his disciples before leaving earth to go to heaven, he did not attempt any explanation to their question, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Instead he said, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power, But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”—Acts 1:6-8

There are two different Greek words translated by the English word, ‘power’, in these verses. The first Greek word is Exousia and refers to the Father’s authority and jurisdiction as ‘power’. The second is Dunamis and refers to a force and ability as ‘power’ or that received by the disciples under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

This promised power to know and to understand God’s Plan, and all things pertaining to the proclaiming of the Gospel applies to the entire church. God has done this so that we may show forth his glory. As Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”—John 16:13

When Jesus presented the merit of his sacrifice before Justice, God was faithful in sending his Holy Spirit as a helper to the apostles and disciples and to all his people ever since, even to the end of the age.

| Home Page | Table of Contents |