44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Does this not describe the Holy Scriptures? Are they not comprised of Jesus’ words, plus what was written about him in the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms?

45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Do we not need the Lord to enable us to understand them? To open our minds? Pray for this each time you sit down with the Word! Oh, God! Illumine me!

46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Is not the Scriptures’ core the glorious gospel message? Do we carry it with us wherever we go?

48 “You are witnesses of these things.

This time, Jesus was speaking of his mission in the past tense, and was pointing to the calling of his followers going forward to be his witnesses.

49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

But how would they accomplish this mission without him? They were to wait in the city for his empowerment to be put or hoisted upon them, to literally “clothe them” for the days ahead. This would be their one and only cloak necessary!

So then, our calling is to understand the scriptures and to teach Jesus, particularly the gospel, to all. We begin by believing in his bodily resurrection, and then ours. In the meantime, we continue on in this world living by his Word in the power of his Spirit until we meet him in the air or are summoned home.