As I have always said from this column and from the pulpit, I love Easter. I love celebrating Easter ... singing those wonderful, inspiring hymns and songs; and preaching about our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! But equally important to Jesus' resurrection is His Ascension. Jesus' Ascension occurred exactly forty days after His Resurrection. His ascension was that event in which Jesus "ascended" back up to Heaven to sit at the Father's right hand. From that position, Jesus has been waiting for the Father's command to return to Earth and gather His bride ... the Church.

With that said, today I want to focus on some of what Jesus said to His followers during those forty days. We spend a lot of time and lessons and sermons discussing what Jesus said before his crucifixion; yet, what He had to say after His resurrection is seldom mentioned. However, when we study His words during those forty days we find they are just as important. There is no question that today we live in an evil, fallen world. And according to the Bible, it will only get worse. Thus, Jesus encourages us when he says, "Fear not." We do not have to fear because we have the peace of God within us. Jesus also commands us to "bear witness." It is the Church ... Christians ... who are to bring hope to an otherwise hopeless world. And Jesus reminds us that we will receive (and have) power ... the power of the Holy Spirit ... to endure to the end. 

Let us all focus and glean from the words of our Risen Lord!