Nonetheless, the church is God's idea, God's grand masterpiece.
Out of all the ways He could have proclaimed Jesus' resurrection, He chooses to send out 12 Apostles (11 original plus Matthias).
One Apostle for every tribe of Israel.
This symbolism just reaffirms Jesus' statement in John 4:22, "for salvation is from the Jews."
The church had to start through the teachings of Judaism... the law and prophets of Judaism is what pointed all along to Christ.
In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 72 evangelists.
It's odd why he chooses this number, 72 was the number of the members of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish Supreme Court at that time.
So Jesus is resurrected.
One of the first questions the disciples ask Him is, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Jesus doesn't say yes or no. He just says, 'it's not for you to know when... BUT YOU will receive power.
Almost as if Jesus is saying, 'Ya know what, I'm not gonna do anything. I'm the King, I think I've pretty much solidified that with the whole raising from the dead and all... but when the Holy Spirit comes upon you... well, YOU can restore the kingdom, I'll sit by and watch my Spirit work through you and in you.'
"He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." -Acts 1:7-8 ESV
Jesus sends out 12 Apostles.
Jesus has a supreme court of evangelists.
And the by product of the Holy Spirit coming down is a birth of a family of believers, an organization like no other: the church.
The church is the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel. The church is what bridges the gap of the Old Testament law and synagogue with the New Testament fellowship.
The church is God's kingdom manifested on earth.
The church is what God has set up to give us a glimpse of what heaven will be like.
The church is what Jesus came for.
The church is what Jesus prayed for.
The church is what Jesus died for.
Let's stop messing with it.
Let's stop messing around with it.
Let's stop 'dating it' as Pastor Joshua Harris would say.
Let's commit to it.
The church is the most important thing on the planet.
"In and of itself, the church is merely a mirage of the eternal kingdom of God. We are not subject to preachers or priests but a King; we don't have affiliation to members but kinship to citizens; we don't own property, we have dominion. Praise be to our God and Father who made us a kingdom of priests and princes!" -Dr. Mark Moore, (My Witnesses)
