Jesus Empowering
When Jesus was on earth, his power was localised to his physical presence, mostly. Yes, he healed at a distance – but it was still his physical self that affected the healing.
But when he ascended into heaven, he didn’t leave us for good. He sent His Holy Spirit, and hear this: the Spirit is with all believers at once. No longer is Jesus’ power restricted to His bodily presence, but any believer has access to the physical power of the Holy Spirit wherever they are around the world!
The Ascension and Pentecost are inseparable. Christ’s leaving and Christ’s sending of the Spirit are closely linked.
In Acts 1 Jesus said: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts 1:7–8 NIV)
Power Beyond Outages
You will receive power when the Spirit comes on you, Jesus promised. Now, power is a touchy subject in South Africa. Much of the time, our homes and workplaces don’t have power. Mismanagement and corruption at Eskom, our main electricity supplier, means that our power comes in spurts. It’s on, then it’s off, then it’s on, then it’s off!
And there’s a sense in which the disciples lived like that pre-Pentecost. They did good! And then Jesus sent them about by themselves… and they messed up. Then they were brilliant… then they argued among themselves.
But when the Spirit came, a new power overtook them! A power that wasn’t intermittent. There was no load shedding of their inner power, when it was coming from a different source!
Many people in South Africa have now looked to a different source - gone off the grid, so that they don’t have to rely on a faulty power-giver for their electricity. I suppose that Pentecost was a similar event - instead of power going on, off, on, off, because they were working in their own strength much of the time, the disciples were given new POWER through the Holy Spirit, and lived lives entirely consecrated to God from then on.
Spirit's Transformative Power
Think of it: before Pentecost, even while Jesus was with him, Peter was cowardly. Denying Jesus and running away. But after Pentecost? He was a bold, uncompromising witness for Jesus. Before Pentecost, he was full of doubt. After? He was full of faith and confidence. Before Pentecost, Peter was unlearned and ignorant. But after? He had insight and understanding that even stumped the Jewish leaders. Before Pentecost Peter was prideful and boastful. After he became a humble and lowly servant.
What made the difference? The Spirit! The outpouring of the Spirit into his life transformed him. And so, when Jesus ascended, the promise of the Holy Spirit, who would bring power, was an amazing thing. Are you living in His power? Are you making use of this new power He made available when He ascended? Or are you still living in your own intermittent power?
The Spirit’s power is available wherever you are if you will believe it. If you will grasp it. If you will claim it.
Praise the ascended Christ, and make use of the power He sent through His Spirit.
