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. 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. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:3 – 5

Jesus is alive.  As the Acts of the Apostles opens, one astounding fact is announced, “He is alive.”  Not was alive or will be alive.  He is not an illusion, now gone, but alive, a living presence among us and all his followers is the world.

The Apostles found this very, very hard to believe.  Is this Jesus who appeared to them alive?  Is he son of Mary and Joseph? Is He really Jesus, their friend of several years?  Yes.

For forty days, in his resurrected body, he insisted that he is not dead, but alive!  What could be more dramatic? Not only did Jesus appear among his disciples and others during those 40 days, he had a message for them, “The Kingdom of God” is here!  I am alive. The Kingdom of God is now here!

This is such a compelling and unexpected reality that Jesus, knowing how hard it is for us to believe, promised to baptize us with the Holy Spirit.  Without that baptism it is hardly possible to believe.  That promised Holy Spirit was poured out with amazing effects at Pentecost.

As I write this, I stand in awe.  In my own experience it is no easier for me to welcome Jesus into my life than for those who lived two thousand years ago.  It is still an amazing thing – that we human beings can be baptized with the Holy Spirit, sent by God Almighty.  Is this not what makes us different from all who do not experience that in life?

I need to recapture this astounding reality. It changes everything.  Praise God!