After telling his disciples that they should love one another, Jesus began preparing them in John 15:18-16:11 to be hated by the world. Even so, he sent them out to be witnesses for him, but not on their own. He also promised to send the Holy Spirit to be the witness who would convince the world about the truth of the gospel.
Christ’s ascension is what we need in the Day of Judgment.
God's presence in the early church produced awesome acts of community giving and healing but also an awesome judgment against hypocrisy and deception.
On the first resurrection day, Jesus’ own disciples believed that he was raised as they remembered his words, understood the Scriptures, and broke bread...
