“并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地，和撒玛利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。” – 徒 1:8
在阿巴拉契亚山道上攀登“祭司山”是一个相当大的挑战。虽然它不是我爬过的最高的山，但我爬到山顶还是颇为费劲。有些路段几乎看不见，我不得不趴在岩石上翻过去。不过，从山顶上看到的壮丽景色还是值得这份努力的。
耶稣在地上传道的最后一幕发生在一座名为橄榄山的山麓。祂和门徒经常去那里。经过三年多的跋涉，他们来到了这趟旅程的转折点。在那里，耶稣赐给门徒一个惊人的命令：要传扬祂的道，从耶路撒冷到犹太全地，和撒玛利亚，直到地极。
耶稣的门徒完全没有心理准备和物质装备来完成这项任务。但祂也赐给他们一个应许。祂升天以后，仍要藉着圣灵与他们同在。藉着圣灵的同在和帮助，门徒们要向万国传扬耶稣的福音。
使徒行传和新约的接下来的部份都表明耶稣的门徒正是这样做的。凡他们所到之处，都有新的门徒代代传承，直到我们的世代。感恩的是，我们如今也有神所应许的圣灵为我们引路。
祷告
主耶稣，求你以你的灵充满我们，使我们能分享你的福音，你的爱，直到地极。奉你的名祷告，阿们。
使徒行传 1:1-14
1提阿非罗啊，我已经作了前书，论到耶稣开头一切所行所教训的，
2直到他藉着圣灵吩咐所拣选的使徒以后，被接上升的日子为止。
3他受害之后，用许多的凭据将自己活活地显给使徒看，四十天之久向他们显现，讲说神国的事。
4耶稣和他们聚集的时候，嘱咐他们说：“不要离开耶路撒冷，要等候父所应许的，就是你们听见我说过的。
5约翰是用水施洗，但不多几日，你们要受圣灵的洗。”
6他们聚集的时候，问耶稣说：“主啊，你复兴以色列国就在这时候吗？”
7耶稣对他们说：“父凭着自己的权柄所定的时候、日期，不是你们可以知道的。
8但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。”
9说了这话，他们正看的时候，他就被取上升，有一朵云彩把他接去，便看不见他了。
10当他往上去，他们定睛望天的时候，忽然有两个人身穿白衣站在旁边，说：
11“加利利人哪，你们为什么站着望天呢？这离开你们被接升天的耶稣，你们见他怎样往天上去，他还要怎样来。”
12有一座山名叫橄榄山，离耶路撒冷不远，约有安息日可走的路程。当下，门徒从那里回耶路撒冷去，
13进了城，就上了所住的一间楼房。在那里有彼得、约翰、雅各、安得烈、腓力、多马、巴多罗买、马太、亚勒腓的儿子雅各、奋锐党的西门和雅各的儿子犹大。
14这些人同着几个妇人和耶稣的母亲马利亚，并耶稣的弟兄，都同心合意地恒切祷告。
Moving Out
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” – Acts 1:8
Climbing “The Priest” on the Appalachian Trail was quite a challenge. Though it’s not the tallest mountain I have climbed, I struggled to the top. Sections of the trail were barely visible, forcing me to scramble over rocks in some places. The splendid views from the summit, though, were worth the effort.
The last scene of Jesus’ earthly ministry took place on a hill called the Mount of Olives. Jesus went there often with his disciples. After much walking over three years, they had reached a turning point in their journey together. There Jesus gave his disciples a startling command—to spread the word about him from Jerusalem to the surrounding areas of Judea and Samaria, and “to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus’ disciples were completely unprepared and unequipped to accomplish this task. But he also gave them a promise. After he ascended to heaven, he would continue to be present with them through the Holy Spirit. With and through the Holy Spirit, the disciples were to begin sharing the good news about Jesus to all nations.
The book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament show that Jesus’ disciples did that. And where they left off, new disciples took over, all the way down through generations of Christ-followers to us. Thankfully, we have the promised Holy Spirit to lead the way for us as well.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, fill us with your Spirit to share your good news and love to the ends of the earth. In your name, Amen.
