Staring At The Cross


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As a Christian, the celebration of Easter is a huge deal!

The build up, the long day of celebration, the tremendous joy that we feel knowing Jesus is alive.

Today, I want to talk about what sometimes happens after that day.

First, look with me to
Acts 1:1-3 NASB

The first thing I want us to see here is; Jesus gave orders to His apostles

There was a purpose of showing Himself, alive, to the disciples. He wanted them to believe, so they would actually carry out His orders

They had heard that he was going to rise from the grave, but doubt is powerful

Now, they have the motivation to carry out the orders that Jesus left them, knowing there is no doubt

Jesus gives them another command, to wait for the Holy Spirit

Sometimes, after a great event like Easter, we are energized and want to just strike out doing things for Jesus

But, we need to receive, through the Holy Spirit, what or how we are to do these things.

In other words, take time to pray for guidance before striking out.

When you receive the Holy Spirit, you will be My witnesses even unto all the earth

Basically what Jesus said in this passage is, you don’t have to know everything, you just have to believe and be obedient.

We may not know the days or times, but we know that Jesus will come again.

When we listen to the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit says to go here, tell this person, wait on this to happen, we need to answer

Jesus had equipped the disciples and given them orders to carry out because He knew He was about to leave.

While they were standing there with Him, He ascended into heaven.

They had to be amazed, excited and also fearful all at the same time.

Jesus, whom they had been walking with for all this time, has now gone to be with the Father

He didn’t leave them alone and He didn’t leave them without direction.

However, this event was so powerful, all they could do was stand and stare

We, as modern day believers, sometimes find ourselves after Easter standing and staring at the cross because it has been so powerful.

We want to just stay in the moment of the love that Jesus showed on that cross.

But look at verse 11 again

Why do you stand and stare? Don’t you remember what He said? He will come again.

When He comes again, don’t you want Him to find you carrying out the orders He left?

Remember, that those same orders Jesus gave to the apostles, He gives to all believers

GO! And TELL!

The cross is so amazing, because without the love that Jesus showed on that cross, we would have no hope.

However, He didn’t go to the cross for us to stare at it, but so that we could take that hope and share it with all who will listen.

We have been given an order and it is one that has never been rescinded.

Are you carrying out the final orders of Jesus today? Are you ready to begin doing just that?



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