By Dr. Lawrence Butler, The Bridge Church, Pembroke.

There were many proofs offered to convince the disciples that Jesus Christ was alive. People other than the 11 apostles were made aware of the resurrection as evidenced by the crowd of “above 500” that Paul spoke of in I Corinthians 15. We don’t know where all these people were on the Day of Pentecost, but about 120 were present in the upper room. THE UPPER ROOM The upper room experience was perhaps the most powerful statement that Jesus was alive.

Remember His promise to the disciples, recorded by John and passed on to us. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you (John 16:7).”

You may ask, “Who is the Comforter?” John also tells us that. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14.26). The powerful arrival of the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) was the fulfillment of the promise of Christ. How and why did the Holy Ghost come? He came because the Father sent Him in the name of Jesus Christ. He would not have come had Jesus not gone back to the Father and sent Him, and He proceeded from the Father (John 15.26). Father and Son were in agreement to send the Holy Ghost. Jesus reminded the disciples He would send the Holy Ghost upon them at His Ascension from the Mount of Olives into the presence of the Father. Did this happen? Yes, at the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Ghost fell on those in the upper room and they began to speak with other tongues. Jesus also promised power when the Holy Ghost arrived. Did this happen? Certainly. Consider the lame man healed at the gate of the temple (Acts 3:1-9), the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 51-11), the deliverance of the disciples from jail (Acts 5: 18-20), the conversion of Saul (later named Paul Acts 9:17), or the resurrection of Tabitha (Acts 9:39-41). The miracles continued just as Mark recorded at the end of his writing. “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (Mark 16:20).

These things could have only happened if the resurrection really occurred, and Jesus really sent the Holy Ghost.