Acts 1:1-11
Scholars refer to the Book of Acts as the gospel of the Holy Spirit and the early church history.
It’s a bridge between the Gospels and Epistles.
Christians all over the world are adding to the 28th chapter through their lives, testimony and witness for Lord Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection.
The gospel account describes the ministry of Lord Jesus before crucifixion.
The book of Acts informs the reader what Lord Jesus is doing through Holy Spirit (His Spiritual Presence).
I. THE CONVINCING PROOF OF RESURRECTION (1-4A)
This is Luke saying to Theophilus about his previous writing which is Gospel of Luke.
We don’t know who Theophilus is – he could be a Christian or a seeker in faith.
Resurrection of Lord Jesus is very important for the church – everything is based on that.
A. Physical Presence (HIS glorified body)
After HIS suffering (Crucifixion) the Lord visibly appeared to them in physical body.
Luke attempts to remove all doubts by reminding us that Lord Jesus appeared many times and many places to many people under differing circumstances.
We notice that HE was eating food with HIS disciples.
B. HIS top priority “Kingdom of God”
Kingdom of God must have been HIS top agenda during 40 days of HIS post resurrection meetings with HIS disciples.
The disciples always had a political view of the kingdom of God because of the oppressive Roman rule.
So HE was preparing them for the spiritual kingdom of God through the Church.
II. PROMISE OF POWER FROM ABOVE (4b-7)
The Lord commands not to leave Jerusalem but wait for the promised power.
The promised power is a GIFT – no one can earn that power – a gift of God – a gift from God.
Even in those intense moments with the Lord they were concerned about restoration of David’s throne at Jerusalem.
This shows that the disciples were not yet ready to take up the great responsibility of preaching the Gospel.
III. HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS FOR WITNESS
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.”
The Lord in HIS final meeting with HIS disciples on the Mount of Olives is providing a bridge between HIS earthly ministry and the disciples’ future mission.
Without the power of the Holy Spirit it it will be mission impossible.
We have to understand that even though the disciples lived with HIM for 3 and half years and witnessed many miracles with their own eyes – heard HIM preach about the kingdom of God – now seeing the risen Lord physically – they are not yet ready for the task ahead.
Witness means in Greek martus or martyr or we can understand ‘loyalty at all costs’.
The key here is the power of the Holy Spirit is not yet given to them.
HE gave them new dose of courage and promised new supernatural power for a brand new task of establishing HIS Church on earth.
The Lord promises them the power of the Holy Spirit - the super natural power to witness and evangelize Jews and Gentiles.
IV. THE ASCENSION (9-11)
The Lord was taken up from Mount of Olives and HE will sure to come back at the same place.
The earthly existence of Lord Jesus ended with a note of promise about HIS ultimate 2nd coming with HIS church after 7 years of tribulations.
As HE was hidden by a cloud at the Lord’s departure, HE will be revealed with a cloud at HIS return – this is what we know as the 2nd coming with the Church to rule as King of Kings.
The Church that started with twelve illiterate disciples became a mega church worldwide with a strong 3-4 billion people.
This is all because of the power of the Holy Spirit working through the life of the church worldwide.
People continue to testify and witness for their faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

John 21:15-25
Lord Jesus is in the process of restoring Apostle Peter to the Leadership.
First three verses speak of the restoration process.
I. RESTORATION (15-17)
A. Lord purposely calls Peter by his given name “Simon son of John” – reminding him of the old self of fisherman instead of moving forward as HIS disciple.
B. Restoration started with a basic question, “Do you love ME?”
Every person who became a faithful follower of Lord Jesus needs restoration to his/her first love when they stumble in faith.
In fact Peter boasted that he loves the Lord even at the cost of his life but utterly failed and denied HIM thrice before crucifixion.
Sometimes we too feel the same way as we wander off the road of faith even though we love our Lord Jesus.
Three times the Lord challenges Peter with same question because Peter denied the Lord three times publicly.
Publicly the Lord challenges Peter and asks “Do you love ME more than these”?
Lord Jesus expects all believers to love HIM more than anything in the world.
C. Lord gives Peter the charge of HIS sheep.
After restoration the Lord entrusts the responsibility of taking care of HIS flock.
First time the Lord says “Feed MY lambs” – second time “Take care of MY sheep” – third time “Feed MY sheep”.
Lambs represent immature young believers – sheep represents all believers and non-believers – all need spiritual food as well as protection from the evil.
An illiterate fisherman is being transformed into a shepherd of the flock.
Peter was not only a shepherd (Pastor) but also an Evangelist preaching the Gospel.
II. PETER’S CROSS (18-19)
After having restored Peter to the leadership the Lord is helping him to understand his future death.
The tradition says that Peter preferred upside down cross instead of a straight cross/regular cross to be crucified.
Peter’s ministry – His service – shepherding Lord’s sheep – Eventually his death on the cross – Everything to glorify God
III. EYES ALWAYS FIXED ON LORD JESUS (20-23)
Peter is good at taking his eyes off the Lord – WE ALL DO
First time he looked within himself instead of looking at Jesus – he felt sinful and requested the Lord to go away. (Luke 5:8)
Second time he looked away from the Lord and he began to sink (Matt 14:30)
Now third time Peter is looking behind him instead of looking ahead with Lord Jesus.
He was looking behind as John was following them.
Here the Lord rebuked Peter for his interest in John’s future.
We get into trouble when we take our eyes off the Lord – if we do, we feel miserable and sometime sink into depths of despair.
Our main commission is to help each other and grow together but not to be curious about others.
That is why the Lord rebuked Peter just to follow HIM in every aspect of his ministry.
IV. JOHN’S TESTIMONY IS TRUE (24-25)
Apostle John whom the Lord most was an eye witness and recorder of all the experiences that took place during the life of our Lord.
John was witnessing and testifying these truths about the Lord Jesus and eventually recorded them for the future Church.
Here other than John declares that what John wrote was true and trustworthy.
Verse 24b “We (Other witnesses) know that his (John) testimony is true.” Parenthesis is mine.
From that time on, the Church continues to testify that what is said about our Lord Jesus is true and trustworthy.
Today we are included in verse 24b as we continue testify what is written about Lord Jesus Christ true and trustworthy through our lives. Amen

John 21:1-14
(Some thoughts are adopted from Pastor Wiersbe commentary on Gospel of John)
Foremost question comes to my mind is why did Apostle John write the 21st chapter.
He could have ended with 20th chapter with Lord appearing to Thomas.
First reason is that the resurrection appearances helped the disciples understand who Lord Jesus was and to see that HE was the fulfillment of Scripture (OT).
The second reason could be to let the readers know the restorations of Peter to the apostleship as well as the leader of the disciples.
Third reason is to arrest all rumors concerning John being living until the Lord’s return.
Fourth reason is to usher into the next book that is Acts of the Apostles Peter leading the way along with John as his assistant.
Fifth reason is how the 21 century Christian can relate to the risen Lord.
THE SETTING (1-3)
John did not want to end at Jerusalem but he dragged us to Sea of Galilee where their discipleship started – a beautiful setting for the closure.
There the Lord appeared to the 7 disciples – out of them 6 were fishermen.
I am not a professional fisherman but fishing is recreational sport for me.
But I have learnt many things as I visited California piers for fishing – patience – perseverance – do not quit easily – dedicated and always have anticipation and expectation for catching fish.
It is different with professional fishermen who go out deep into the waters.
They required not only having all the above but also need to be courageous and tough to deal with the changing weather situations and risks in the deep waters.
Now I understand why the Lord Jesus chose fishermen to be HIS pillar apostles.
THE MIRACLE (4-6)
The disciples did not recognize the Lord standing on the shore.
Luke 5 describes the same type of event with some contrast.
In Luke, Lord was in the boat with them physically.
Here HE was standing on the shore in HIS glorified body.
HE allowed HIS disciples to see HIS glorified body after resurrection for the main reason that the disillusioned disciples to believe in HIS resurrection.
Today, the Lord is standing beside us through Holy Spirit whom we cannot see.
Lord Jesus is there with us every step of the way because HE lives in our hearts.
THE REALIZATION (7-8)
John was the closest to the Lord and he recognized the Lord first because he loved the Lord so much and stood with HIM even at the time of Lord’s death.
The response of Peter is also contrasting with Lukan account in chapter 5.
In Luke, Peter begged the Lord to depart from him for he was a sinful man.
Here, he wraps his coat and jumps into the water to meet the Lord on shore.
THE BREAKFAST (9-14)
Lord of the universe makes the breakfast for HIS disciples – HE is in HIS glorified body.
The disciples were the most blessed people on earth to have fellowship with HIM as HE served them breakfast.
Verse 13 echoes the Lord’s Supper and also feeding 5000 thousand.
It opened their eyes to see the risen Lord clearly with physical and spiritual eyes.
As we have seen from the beginning the focus is on Peter.
For the Lord it was very necessary for HIM to restore Peter back to the leadership.
Indirectly Peter was pushed into the forefront to realize that he had to face the Lord after his denial of HIM before crucifixion.
Nobody dare to ask the Lord who are you?
The miracle explained and affirmed the presence of the risen Lord with them.
This is third time the Lord appeared to HIS disciples after resurrection.
Today we don’t ask who are you when we know that the Lord is with us.
We know HIM because we love HIM like Apostle John.

I Corinthians 15:1-20
Apostle Paul was writing to a Church full of Greek converts.
Greeks did not believe in resurrection or after life.
What Paul was trying here is to lay the foundation for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
4 Gospel accounts record the resurrection event because of its importance to Christian faith.
Without resurrection the good news of the gospel would be bad news.
The structure and foundation of Christianity rests solely on the resurrection of Jesus Christ
As Paul says everything revolves around our Lord’s resurrection, our faith, our hope, our life on earth and our life after.
Without resurrection sin is not cleansed, salvation is false and there is no eternal life.
Someone said “The resurrection is scientifically impossible, but historically true.”
The resurrection event is no doubt a history-making, earth-shaking, and life-transforming event unparalleled in human history.
If this event never happened, gospel is a big lie and we are the most pitiable people in the world. 
I. THE PROOF OF RESURRECTION OF LORD JESUS CHRIST
A. The Gospel Proof (1-2)
The message of the Gospel is based on the Lord’s resurrection.
The greatest evidence of resurrection is the miraculous transformation of many lives.
The power of Gospel is the power of resurrection.
B. The Scriptural Proof (3-4)
The Old Testament clearly predicted Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. 
Paul connected the death of Lord Jesus and human sin and the good news of the gospel to resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel accounts Lord Jesus Himself predicted His own resurrection.
C. The Eyewitnesses Proof (5-10)
5 Resurrection appearances – no mention of appearances to women
Lastly a very special witness but not an eye witness for the Resurrection event 
Paul was not among the original apostles, all of whom had been disciples of Jesus during His earthly ministry. 
He became a very special witness of the resurrection more than eye witnesses.
II. THE CONSEQUENCE OF RESURRECTION (11-20)
A. Meaningless earthly existence (11-16)
Only in Christianity the present is linked with the future – our life on earth has value, meaning and purpose.
All these are based upon the resurrection of the Lord.
Christianity declares that we have a life after – we too will be resurrected from the dead.
The credibility of the preacher and the preaching lost if no resurrection.
Lord Jesus resurrection forms the center of gospel preaching, foundation for our faith and hope for the departed loved ones and us to see each other in heaven.
The redemption from sin has no meaning without resurrection.
If no resurrection of Christ, our Christian faith is false and its testimony is also false.
Since Christ is raised from the dead, every believing Christian will be raised after death.
B. False faith, false hope and false salvation (17-20)
If Christ is not resurrected, all believers are to be pitied because we have believed for nothing, lived for nothing, and died for nothing.
All those dying for their faith in the world is senseless – we suffer for nothing – labored for nothing.
The hope of eternity without sin, sickness, suffering, and sorrow, is nothing but a fantasy if Christ is not raised from death.
The dead in Christ will be lost forever if there is no risen Christ.
If we put our faith in a dead Christ we should be the most pitied people on the earth.
“Faith is farce, forgiveness is a fallacy, faithfulness is a folly, and future is a forfeit”.
Verse 20 changes everything.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
What does the resurrection of Christ mean to us? 
How are we affected by it?
Are we different in any way because of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ?
The answers to these questions will impact our faith, changes our perspective of meaning and purpose to our life on earth.
Let it not be another fairy tale due to our casual approach to the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ.