The Rest of the Story

   Three years of training ended with trauma…and triumph. Jesus’ disciples were unprepared for His Passion (though they had certainly been forewarned by their Master). And then there was the resurrection -- which would become the pivotal event in their work. Christ triumphant over death, sin, and Satan!
   All this sets the stage for what Christ had in mind for these trained disciples -- students who were now on threshold of becoming messengers for Christ.  Again we find Jesus foretelling His followers what the “next chapter” would entail.
   Where discipleship really gets grounded in reality is in Acts -- the book by Luke that outlines the history of the early church of Christ. There is a seamless connection between Luke’s Gospel and this, his second book.
   In the opening chapter of Acts we find Jesus telling His disciples to “wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about…the Holy Spirit” (vss.4-5).  But Jesus wasn’t finished.  He concluded by saying:
   “But 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.” (vs.8)
   These disciples would now become “apostles” -- “eye witnesses who are called messengers for Christ.”  Something rema ...