44 And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be
fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the
prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their
mind, that they might understand the scriptures; 46 and he said
unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and
rise again from the dead the third day; 47 and that repentance and
remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the
nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 Ye are witnesses of these
things. 49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon
you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from
on high.
It need not be supposed that the last words of Jesus as recorded by Luke
were spoken on the day of the resurrection or at any one time or place.
They more probably indicate the general substance of those teachings which
are given by the risen Christ to his disciples during the forty days
between his resurrection and his ascension.
They are luminous with truths which are needed by the disciples of Christ
to-day. Among them are such facts as these: The Scriptures contain
authoritative messages concerning Christ; these messages can be understood
only by those who believe in Christ and are guided by him; the essential
truths concerning Christ center in the facts of his death and
resurrection; in virtue of the salvation thus secured, repentance and
forgiveness of sins can be preached; this salvation is to be proclaimed in
all the world; the followers of Christ are the messengers by whom this
good news is to be made known; the power for such proclamation is imparted
by the Spirit of Christ who was manifested in new power on the Day of
Pentecost, and who is now an abiding Presence and a source of limitless
strength to all who seek to do the will of Christ and to glorify his name.