And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you (Luke 24:36). The disciples, full of wonderment, were talking among themselves about the possibility that Jesus might be resurrected—some said they had actually seen Him! As they spoke, suddenly Jesus appeared in their midst. Their reaction? But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb (verses 37-42). He was alive! He was alive! They had thought Him dead, but now He is convincing them how very alive He is. And he said unto them, These are the word which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures (verses 44-45). We, like the disciples, need Jesus to open our understanding of the Scripture, for it’s the only way Jesus will be the living, resurrected Christ in our lives each hour of the day. And [Jesus] said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (verses 46-49).

Power from On High, the Power of the Holy Ghost awaited them. Man has power, too, power that does not come from On High, power that elevates the ego but cannot save that ego from being dashed on the rocks, totally destroying the person. Recognize the power of Almighty God. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts (Zechariah 4:6). Not by the might and power of man will God’s work be accomplished in this last and final hour, but by the Spirit of the Lord, by the Power from Heaven. Jesus is telling the disciples that those who do His work will need to have Power from On High.

Before the disciples’ ecstasy at the resurrection, they had been plunged to the depths of despair. Why? They had lost sight of Power from On High. Jesus had brought it. The manger emanated Power from On High, Power that drew the shepherds, the wise men. Power from On High walked planet Earth in the form of a man. Power from On High was within reach, showing how all men could walk in the grace, the love and the presence of Almighty God. Man did not have to be weak; He could be triumphant through the Power available to him from On High. Man could be so strong that the devil could not defeat him; for God would be in him, walking and talking to him. Jesus was Power from On High, the Word made flesh.

Power from On High walked the streets of Jerusalem; and the blind received their sight, the deaf heard, the crippled were made to walk. Power from On High changed lives, created beauty from ashes. Power from On High caused men’s sins to disappear. The voice of Power from On High was saying to unbelievers, That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. And he arose, and departed to his house (Matthew 9:6,7). Power from On High did the work.

At times the disciples watched Jesus in faith, but all too often in disbelief. What would happen next? Power from On High in the form of a man called Jesus walked the waters. Bid me come, Peter was saying. In other words, “Give me your Power.” Suddenly, Power from On High came upon him and he walked the waters, too. As long as Peter kept his faith in the Power from On High and didn’t reach for earth power, he walked; he stayed on top.

Each life reaching out daily for the Power from On High is a victorious life. It’s a life that knows how to pray, when to pray, what to ask for. Reaching out for Power from On High, you receive the knowledge of Heaven, divine knowledge. Divine wisdom and knowledge are incorporated in Power from On High. Power from On High contains lasting joy, eternal joy—the same joy the redeemed saints of God who have made it through to God’s holy city possess right now. That same peace has been sent down to planet Earth in Power from On High.

Why did the disciples use that Power only at times? They didn’t comprehend enough about it to use it steadily. Not until they received the Holy Spirit baptism were they able to really understand Power from On High. It took more than Jesus gathering them together on the Mount of Beatitudes, more than experiencing the wonder on the Mount of Transfiguration where they saw Jesus in a glorified form, more than the miracles of Jesus—it took more than all that for the disciples to believe in the Power all the time. It would take the Holy Spirit living and dwelling on the inside of them. That’s why Jesus told His disciples: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things (John 14:26). 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). Jesus is telling them that when the Comforter—the Holy Spirit—comes, He will be Power from On High, living and dwelling on the inside, enduing people with His Power—not Earth’s power, not man’s authority, but God’s Power and authority.

When Power from On High works in the lives of men and women, these signs shall follow them: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17,18). The disciples had seen Lazarus raised from the dead. They talked to him; they felt him, embraced him. His flesh was warm with life. People filled with amazement and excitement at the news were running everywhere, while the chief priests consulted together how to put Lazarus to death because so many Jews believed Jesus through his miracle. Witnessing his burial and then hearing he was alive once again…people felt their hearts pound with astonishment. “He can’t be alive…can he?” Then they saw him walking, talking…why, he really is alive!

Looking to the man called Jesus, many declared He was Power from On High; they were ready to go with Him all the way, ready to obey Him in all things. Then came the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane…Peter defending Jesus when He wanted no defense.

“Put up your sword, Peter,” the Master said.

“Any time now He surely will show His power,” the disciples thought. But docilely Jesus went with His accusers as a lamb led to slaughter. “He’s waiting so that Pilate will be sure to see a manifestation of Power from On High,” they hoped desperately…but not so. Jesus was condemned to death. The disciples kept waiting. Where was that delivering Power from On High? Where was it?

They had seen that Power so many times as it healed the sick, raised the dead, transformed lives—even their own. Listening to the voice of Jesus, the disciples were moved by the Power from On High. Never had anyone with lips of clay spoken like Jesus; such words had never been uttered before. Never man spake like this man (John 7:46). The Jews actually think they can crucify this man?

People lined the streets. “My God, they can’t kill Him! He’s Power from On High, the Son of God!” Who remembered the prophecies at a time like this? Who understood His words that had foretold His death? None. The Holy Spirit, the Teacher, was not in them at that time to teach them all things; and Jesus the Teacher was on His way to Calvary.

After all the beatings and torture, Jesus looked barely human. Strength gone, His face unrecognizable, hair matted with blood, eyes swollen almost shut, Jesus now is bent low beneath the cross, straining to carry it. Finally the One they thought to be Power from On High fell beneath the load. Another had to take up the cross the rest of the way.

“Why, why are they killing Him?” a woman who had traveled for days with her little crippled son cried. “I came for Him to heal my son!” It was too late, too late.

“What has He done wrong? Isn’t He the Messiah?” There are no answers. The answers were to come from the Power from On High, from the Holy Spirit. In that Power is the wisdom and knowledge of Almighty God, the greatness of the great I-Am.

Now they’re nailing Jesus to the cross. Still a ray of hope flickers. “He could still come down, couldn’t He? He must come down! If He doesn’t, all will be lost!” The reasoning of their own hearts filled the disciples with increasing horror and dread. Then they heard Him cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

“Oh no! He’s forsaken by God!” The Power they thought had come down has been forsaken—He said it Himself!

Trembling, the disciples watched without the knowledge of God. They heard Him cry, “It is finished!” Their hopes, their dreams died with Him. Power from On High had been real to them, but they were not able to hold on to that reality. No more miracles, no more healings, no more Bread of Life, nothing from God to comfort them. It was all over.

The disciples returned to the life they knew before Jesus called them. He had touched them and made them well, but they would never feel the touch of His hand again—they thought. He had touched them in mind and spirit, and healed them…but it was all over now.

A few lingered to watch as He was taken down from the cross; a few followed to see that He was actually placed in the tomb. They saw the big stone rolled over the entrance…a sealed tomb with a dead man inside. The events were a living nightmare to the disciples, one from which they saw no hope of awakening.

“Peter, do you really believe He’s dead?”

“Yes. They’ve destroyed what we thought was Power from On High.”

Peter had forgotten what Jesus told them; he forgot about the third day. Oh Grief-stricken Ones, why did you look upon the scene with human understanding instead of the faith of God? You failed Him when He needed you so much!

Had the disciples only believed all He had said, there would have been a triumphant gathering of believers at the tomb on that Resurrection Morn. They would have witnessed the great God of the universe as He showed His miracle power—Power from On High. They would have seen the soldiers become as dead men, speechless, frozen where they lay. Power from On High in the form of a mighty angel rolled away the stone. Power from On High touched the body of our Master and He awoke as one from sleep. He stood, holding out life to all mankind who wants to live as the eternal ages roll. Power from On High had conquered death, hell and the grave!

There He stands now before the disciples…that same sweetness, that same loving voice, those hands so powerful—now scarred. From Him flows resurrection to whosoever will obey. From those nail-riven hands Power from On High is streaming. “Feel me, touch me,” He tells the disciples. “Bring me some food. I’m the same Jesus; I’m the same yesterday, today and forever. Now is the time to understand all that the prophets have said about me,” Jesus is telling the disciples. “Know what Moses foretold about me, what David prophesied in the Psalms. Understand it all with the wisdom and knowledge of the Power from On High. Go ye to Jerusalem and tarry there until you receive that Power. The Holy Ghost will descend from Heaven bringing Power from On High.”

About one hundred twenty believed it all. After watching Him ascend back to Heaven, they went to Jerusalem as Jesus had commanded. With great joy they tarried in the Upper Room. All were in one accord in prayer and supplication, praising God and waiting for that Power from On High. What was the promise of the Father? The baptism in the Holy Ghost. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (Acts 1:5). What was it like when that Power from On High descended? And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them (Acts 2:2,3). Power from On High was within reach of every person who wanted it. The Holy Spirit Himself had left the throne of God, making His way straight to the Upper Room. Suddenly the manifestation of Power from On High was visible to the eye. When those waiting in the Upper Room saw forked tongues of fire licking out, they knew the promise of the Father had come! All were filled with the Holy Ghost, and suddenly they began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (verse 4). He had come—the Holy Spirit—and those in the Upper Room were baptized in Him. With Power from On High, those faithful one hundred twenty went forth touching blinded eyes, crying to the crippled, “Stand and walk in the name of Jesus!” and the people were healed.

That Power of the Early Church is here with us today to be used now—it’s from On High! Are you baptized in the Holy Ghost? Do you have the Holy Spirit living and dwelling on the inside of you? His Power from On High is offered to you today. This is the Power that will evangelize the whole earth, shaking the earth once more not only with God’s love, peace and greatness but with judgment too. In the meantime, oh Believer, there is no lack. Power from On High is sufficient. Power from On High will cast out all devils, heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases.

Then on that glorious Rapture morn it will be Power from On High that will change us in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye; and we’ll be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Thank God for the Power from On High! Thank God, the Rapture morning will come just as the Resurrection morning came and changed the whole destiny of the human race! We are the Rapture generation. Do you believe?

Do you believe in Jesus of Nazareth? Do you have understanding of Him, His death and the Power of His Resurrection, Power from On High made available to all? Then lift your heart and say, God: I do believe that Jesus is the Christ of God, the Son of the living God. I believe He died and was resurrected for me. I confess all of my sins, all of my sins; and I believe that His blood washes them all away right now! Come on in Jesus! Come on in Jesus! Come on in Jesus!

If you meant this prayer, He has come; He is yours. Power from On High came to Earth to ensure your deliverance. Power from On High is flowing out to you right now if you have opened up your heart to Jesus. Recognize the power of Almighty God. Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zechariah 4:6). It is Power from On High!