“A New Day Dawning”
April 28, 2019
Acts 1:1-14
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
I sometimes put myself in the place of the people I read about in the Bible. I can hardly imagine what it was like that first Easter. Before this life altering event, you have the bravery and false bravado. Listen to these courageous men:
“So when he (Jesus) heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:6-8,16
“Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
And so said all the disciples.” Matthew 26:1-35
I’m sure these men were sincere. They were committed. They believed! They had even been tested - a little bit. They had been around Jesus when they were going to throw Him off a cliff. Another time the phony religious rulers were going to stone Him. They saw Jesus emerge triumphant and get the best of the Scribes and Pharisee’s again and again in the public square. That gave them a false courage because they had never seen Jesus defeated and overcome. Even though He warned them time and again – they didn’t get it.
Then that horrible Friday came. It began with a betrayal in the Garden and ended with His crucifixion and in between those days there was scourging and beatings and mockery. And how did they react?
“Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.” Matthew 26:56
“Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
Matthew 26:69-74
“Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man(John), wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.” Mark 14:50-52
It must have been terrifying to the disciples to see this One whom they thought was the Messiah, the Anointed One, to be arrested and publicly humiliated. If that were not enough, the strongest one, the leader – denied he even knew Jesus. They all deserted Him and ran like cowards. John even was stripped naked to make his escape. What a humiliating incident to happen to the young man who had just hours earlier laid his head on Jesus’ shoulder at the last supper. But it wasn’t over.
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders…” John 20:19a
“But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.” Luke 23:49
The closest followers of Jesus, the most committed, those who loved Him most, were cowering behind locked doors or were standing off at a safe distance watching what they were doing to Jesus. How ashamed they must have felt as they sweated in fear. These big brave men who had been bickering about who would rule with Jesus and who would be his right hand man were frightened like little school girls. What an embarrassing incident. Fortunately, the story isn’t over. It only Friday - and maybe Saturday. Sunday’s coming! The Scripture continues,
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” John 20:19b-20
Can you imagine their joy? Can you imagine their relief? It all begins to make sense. There is a new day dawning. The darkness is pressed back by the light of a new day! The dancing demons laughing in glee are banished to darkness once again. The Light of the World has risen!
Let’s go back and think again about their sorrow; their sadness; their despair. What a dark hopeless world they must have lived in. Their hopes were dashed; their dreams were gone; the vision for the future had vanished. Sadness, gloom and despair – EVERYWHERE! But now the Savior has returned – and it means a new day has dawned. Their tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy. Their sad wailing turned to laughter! The clouds of doubt turned to the bright sky of a new day! Jesus had come!
I want you to know that when you follow Jesus there is always hope. A new day is always coming. You are never defeated. The Scripture says,
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? NO!
As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:4-39
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
There is always a new day dawning for the Christian. It is true that we will go through our trials; we will go through our temptations; time on this planet will bring its share of pain and sorrow. But there is always hope. There is always the expectation that God will work whatever happens for our good. He promised,
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
There is always a way of escape, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Do you understand? You cannot be defeated! There is always a way out! There is always a way of escape! You are always under God’s mighty care when you are His child. There are always angels around you – protecting you – shielding you – saying “ENOUGH!” when you can’t take any more. You may be tempted to give up at times – but don’t do it. It is always too soon to quit.
I have a poem I say when I am tempted to give up. It goes like this,
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the bills are high,
You’d like to laugh but you have to sigh,
When things are getting you down a bit,
Rest if you must but don’t you quit!
Life is funny with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure it turns out,
Might have won if he’d have stuck it out.
So don’t give up when the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with another blow.
Success if failure turned inside out,
It’s the difference between faith and doubt.
And you never ca tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far.
So don’t give up when you’re hardest hit!
It’s when things go wrong that you must not quit!
Do not ever give up. You may be in your Friday when it seems you will certainly be defeated. The enemy seems too strong; too big; too powerful! But Sunday is coming.
Maybe you are in your Saturday. The battle is over but it seems like you are defeated. It seems at best you are standing off at a safe distance watching your hopes and dreams being pummeled. You just want to survive. You just want to make it without getting hurt any more. It’s Saturday – but Sunday is coming! It is dark and dreary – but a new day is dawning. Hold on! Just hold on! The King is coming! A new day is dawning! And you are gonna make it – if you don’t give up!
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Don’t give up!
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