Appointed To Bear Fruit: A 90 Day Journeyنموونە

Fulfilling Our Part

At the end of their captivity in Egypt, the Israelites gathered their families together to celebrate the Passover. Each family took an unblemished lamb and sacrificed it. The lamb’s blood was sprinkled on the doorpost of the house. Then they ate the meat of that lamb. Later that night, the Lord went throughout the entire land of Egypt and killed every firstborn, whether animal or human. Only those who sought refuge in the house under the blood of the lamb that was slain was saved. God commanded the Israelites to commemorate that night by celebrating the Passover every year. The Passover celebration of eating together was God’s way to remind Israel that God saves people from their sin. During this meal, parents taught the meaning of the Passover to their children. “And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians but spared our houses’” (Ex. 12:26-27).

Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. After Judas departed, Jesus taught them about the meaning of this special Passover when the Lamb of God would be slain to take away the sins of the world. Jesus addressed His disciples as “children.” Up until this point, Jesus was their teacher and they were His disciples. Now Jesus was redefining their relationship by calling them “children” and not friends or disciples. Jesus wanted to bring them into the Passover experience. In the same way that a father would teach his children, Jesus taught about the fulfillment of the Father’s plan of salvation. Jesus would return to the Father after suffering a horrible death, so that salvation would be given to us.

Jesus already had told the Jews that He would depart, and they would not find Him anymore. Now Jesus was telling His disciples the same thing. The unbelieving Jews certainly could not go to heaven where Jesus went because they rejected the redemption through Jesus’ blood. They continually hardened their hearts and finally rejected Jesus by handing Him over to the Romans. Without the cleansing of sins, no one can enter the presence of God.

Nevertheless, the disciples believed in Christ. They should have been permitted to go where Jesus was going. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the door of heaven would be opened for all who believe in Christ. But in their current state, the disciples could not follow Christ in His death, resurrection, and ascension. Christ was going to do what no one else could do. He was going to pay our debt of sin. Only Jesus was sinless and could redeem us. Sinners like us were not qualified to be a mediator between God and men (I Tim. 2:5).

Jesus’ disciples were forbidden to follow Jesus to heaven at that moment, because their work on earth was not yet completed. Jesus entrusted them with the task of proclaiming the gospel. There was much to do so that the message of salvation would reach the ends of the earth. Later, there would come a time when they would follow Jesus and go to heaven. At that moment, they had the important responsibility of bearing witness to the death and resurrection of Christ. Jesus had to depart so that the Holy Spirit would come down. If He didn’t depart, the disciples would not be able to complete their mission. Even though the disciples wanted Jesus to remain with them, their desires were not Jesus’ priority, proclaiming the gospel was the most important concern. 

Application:  Will you commit yourself anew to the task of proclaiming the gospel?