45-49He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.” (The Message, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 Eugene H. Peterson by NavPress Publishing)

What is God up to?  First, God is revealing Jesus, the Living Word, through the written Word. The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms (also called The Writings) make up the Bible of Jesus’ day. These Old Testament books of our Bible are all about Jesus. When we read the Bible we are seeing Jesus revealed on every page.

Second, God is bringing total life-change to everyone who rests in Jesus for forgiveness of sin. This promise is available to people everywhere. Beginning from Jerusalem the men Jesus had trained would be witnesses of the good news of total life-change. God was going to send the Holy Spirit to equip the Church for the mission. As the disciples had been seeing and hearing Jesus while He was with them, people everywhere would be able to hear and see Jesus as the Holy Spirit makes Him real to them and forms His total life-change kind of life in them.