Part V

THE FIRST TESTAMENT CHURCH

PART V

19. A PROMISED MEETING IN GALILEE

Matthew 28:5-7: "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you." The angel affirms the resurrection and the appointment. This was the first order of God's business after He arose, in which we see the Plan of God being worked by Jesus.

20. THE ANGEL AT THE EMPTY TOMB

In Matthew 28:10, Jesus Himself appears to the women and also affirms this appointment. This was the first order of God's business after He arose, in which we see the Plan of God being worked out by Jesus.

21. THE MEETING IN GALILEE

Matthew 28:16: "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them." They must have known the exact pace where Jesus planned to meet them.

What a day this must have been to the disciples (the church) after seeing Him hang on the cross, crucified, then sealed in the tomb! Now they were to meet their Master alive! John 20:19: "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."

As they obeyed the Lord in going into Galilee to the place He had appointed them, and as they had concealed themselves behind closed doors, the Lord makes his appearance and some doubted that it was truly the Lord. In Mark 16:14, they are rebuked for their unbelief.

22. THE WORLDWIDE COMMISSION GIVEN

Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

Mark 16:15: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." No one could deny that this was to every nation. Israel had rejected the King or Jesus Christ and had fulfilled in crucifying Him the words of the Lord, which the prophets had spoken. Acts 13:29-30: "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead." What a blessedness to know he is raised and has now extended the Abrahamic promises to every nation. Not only does He give everyone eternal life that will believe on Him for life, but through the church, all that will obey Him shall inherit the promises.

Notice again the command given in Matthew 28:19-20. These things were to be done progressively, as the authority was given to this assembly and they were to obey the Lord's command. Yet there were other preparations to be made before they could fulfill this commandment.

23. COMMAND TO WAIT AT JERUSALEM FOR POWER

Luke 24:48-49: "And ye are witnesses of these things. And, 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."

John 14:15-16: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever."

Here is the conditional promise made to the first church that they might receive the power to carry out the Great Commission. No doubt this required some physical and mental strength but that is not all; they must wait until the power came from God. No man can please God by physical or mental effort. it takes the power of God to do in and through us those things that please Him. (Philippians 2:13).