Power on High
Luke 24:46-49
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
The verses describe in more detail the giving of the great commission which is recorded elsewhere. The key to understanding these verses is Jesus's prior instructions for the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. The second part of his instructions was the disciples' deposition as his witnesses. There are those who take the great commission recorded in Matthew 28:16-20 as their mandate for proselytizing. They make this their life's mission: forsaking family, careers, nationalities and livelihoods. Such can be termed radical Christianity. These people refuse to work, living off the donations of others in their quest to build the church. God birthed the church using the twelve disciples who were still fisherman, tax collectors, writers, radicals, and all sorts of other unsightly characters. For some, following Christ meant forsaking all as in Matthew 19:27. For people in these situations, is it not comforting to note that Jesus prioritizes those abandoned for his sake according to Matthew 19:29-30.
You are witnesses of these things.
First and foremost, the disciples were to be his witnesses. As they witness, they have opportunity to teach the nations and baptize them; they have opportunity by will or by force to go to all nations as the Father sends. Those that simply go without the Father sending them are powerless witnesses. Notice the personal anointing that follows the great commission. Anointing implies appointing. Anointing means being set apart for a special purpose or use. As God anointed the disciples with his Spirit, so he appointed them for the divine calling. The gift of tongues signifies this and was not meant merely for show or personal glory. I believe God intended the gift of tongues to be used in the disciples' divine assignment or their appointed position. The great commission was the collective of the personal appointing for which they were to be anointed. The mission of the church was to go into all the world and as they are going to preach, teach the gospel, and baptize in his name. The individual mandate was to be his witnesses. We see there is a danger here. For had the disciples gone immediately into the world to be his witnesses, they would have been powerless. A powerless witness is a frightful thing to have. A court reporter without the judge's authority behind her record becomes little more than a tabloid sensationalist. What does this power and authority mean? May I present that they are not the same.
He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.
The difference between power and authority is like a judge with the authority of a nation, yet powerless without the police to enforce his rulings. Some say that so and so is judge, jury, and executioner. Well, God is the cop, the judge, and the executioner to put it simply. The disciples were given the authority of God to do as he commanded. Jesus's example in Matthew 10:7-8 was healing the sick, working miracles, casting out demons, judging the world, sacrificing himself for man, and raising the dead. His life and authority we have also been given. Thus, we have his authority. This same authority was given him by the Father in John 17:2. However, the disciples met a demon possessed man whom they could not cure in Matthew 17:19. Christ's rebuke was gentle; the disciples were powerless in the face of the evil spirit. Waiting for the power of God to descend on the day of Pentecost became more than necessary; it was vital to the fulfillment of the disciples' personal appointing. He gives us power to reign as kings and priests unto him in Revelation 1:6. The promise of his presence "until the end of the world" in Matthew 28:20, becomes more than a sweet reminder but rather carries with it the weight of eternity filled with his glory. What kind of witness would you be knowing what God had appointed you to fulfill? You have been given all you need to carry out his divine assignment, equipped with his authority, and armed with the power of God in you. Is it little wonder then that God has not called you to dysfunctional Christianity.