Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

The work is finished, the end is written, 

Jesus Christ, My Living Hope!

I love singing about Jesus' triumph over sin, shame, and death! Our victory is complete in Jesus! He has finished the work of our redemption and we know where our eternity is when we put our trust in Jesus, but you know what? The end is written, but we haven’t reached the finish line yet! The story isn’t done! As wonderful, powerful, and important as it is, we can’t close the book after Jesus’ death and resurrection! In between Jesus’ ascension and His second coming, He has given us a purpose and a plan for His Church!

Read to the end of chapter 24 when Jesus returns to the Father. This isn’t Jesus simply disappearing as He did from the Emmaus Disciples in verse 24:31; He left this world in a very public, gravity-defying way. Jesus wanted this to be witnessed and retold so there was no doubt about who He is and what He did for us. But this spectacular return to the skies was not the end either. Jesus’ ascent to heaven simply closed one chapter and opened another. Jesus’ physical body left this world, but the story continues.

While Jesus’ followers waited for the promised power of the Holy Spirit to fall, they did exactly as Jesus instructed. First, they marked Jesus’ departure with worship, and then obediently, the believers returned to the very city where their Savior had been put to death 40 days earlier. We don’t know if they felt afraid or uncertain, but Luke does tell us that they went to Jerusalem with great joy! In fact, as these believers waited in Jerusalem, they didn’t hide in their houses or lose hope; they were still overflowing with joy! These followers of Christ didn’t keep their faith for themselves. Luke tells us that they went out to publicly and continually praise God in the temple. Nothing was going to stop them from worshiping their Lord!

The CSB Study Bible commentary beautifully highlights these joyful acts of worship:

“Such devotion to prayer [and worship] was a fitting prelude and precondition to the wonderful things God would do through Christ’s earliest messengers. Christ’s church was set to explode onto the scene as a beacon of light and hope in a spiritually dark world.”

These believers were praying and preparing to do the work Jesus commissioned them to do! And in this chapter, the first believers show us the perfect example of how we are to live as followers of Christ:

• As Witnesses – Whether we’ve memorized countless scriptures or are new to following Jesus, we can faithfully share our stories of who Jesus is and how He changed our eternities. (Luke 24:48)
• Joyfully – Even in our darkest, scariest seasons, we can step out boldly with the joy of Jesus. (Luke 24:52)
• Continually – As we go throughout our days, we continue bringing Him our prayers and the praise He deserves. (Luke 24:53)

In victory, we get to continually lift our praises as witnesses of who our Savior is and what He has done. Victory is not one moment when the battle is initially won; it is every moment after! Jesus nailed our sin to the cross and overcame death as He walked out of that grave; now, we have a God-given mission to spread the good news of His victory until we see He returns! And when we see Him face-to-face in eternity, we get to continually worship our God who created, loves, and redeemed us! This story isn't over! There is still work to be done, so let’s prepare for our mission like the first believers and joyfully praise our God! 

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

• Praise God today! Start your day in praise, and lift your prayers to Him as you go. End your day in thanksgiving for all He has done!

• As a witness of Jesus, your story has power! Share your story with someone today! You can share how Jesus has changed your eternity with your church family on the Venture Church App! Just click the “Share Your Story” button.
• This week on the Venture Church App, check the app every day from Palm Sunday to Easter for new content to prepare your heart and mind for Resurrection Sunday. Walk through the sacred timeline that forever changed humankind’s relationship with God by taking a personal journey through Holy Week with our daily guide.

Family Application: Luke 24

By: Robbie Jefcoat

We are about to learn about the happiest day in the Bible! We learned that Jesus was beaten up, put on a cross, and died for me and for you, but what happens next is the best part of the story. Two of Jesus’ friends, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of one of Jesus’ disciples, were going to the tomb (a big cave with an even bigger stone in front of it) to put some spices that smell good around His body.

Imagine their surprise when they came up to the tomb and the guards were gone and the stone had been rolled away! They were so surprised! They ran to the tomb and saw that Jesus’ body was no longer there! Now they were really confused! Then two angels came down and explained that Jesus was not there and that He had risen! Then the women remembered that Jesus had told them that He would rise again after three days.

They were overjoyed and took off running as fast as they could to tell all the disciples and their friends that Jesus was no longer dead, but that He was alive!

Jesus is stronger than death, and not even death could keep Him down! Man! Jesus is so cool!

• Imagine you’re walking up to the tomb and see that the stone is gone, and then you see two angels. That would be pretty surprising! Show everyone your best surprised face!
• Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for rising again and giving us good news that You are alive to tell everyone that we meet!
• Check out the “Holy Week Family Guide” on the Venture Church App! On the homepage of the app, click on the “Journey through Holy Week” button to find a daily guide. On each day of Holy Week, you can watch a short video, reflect on scripture, and download the “Holy Week Family Guide” PDF. Use this tool with your family and share it with friends!