Acts 1:1-14
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. [1]
______________________
The disciples wanted to know if at this time the Kingdom would be restored completely. After, Jesus was raised, all power and authority had been given to Him, so will everything be accomplished at this time?
Sometimes this question is taken to indicate that the disciples didn’t “get it” yet, and were asking about a physical political kingdom for Israel and the end of the Roman occupation. But in verse 3, Jesus is said to have spent 40 days teaching them about the Kingdom, so I think they had the right understanding of Kingdom here. They just wanted to know if Jesus’ rule and reign were going to be visible now.
The disciples wanted to know when the ultimate results of the mission would be visible. And Jesus said to them that it is not for them to know God’s timetable, when the results and fruits would be seen. What they should be focused on is the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit and the call to be a witness to the ends of the earth.
These words are as applicable today and are applicable in my life. I often want to know about the visible tangible results of the mission of God. When will that person come to faith? Will the church grow in our country? Will India become Christian? And this text says to me to leave these to God. He is the lord of the results and the fruit. My job is to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit and keep witnessing.
What’s really neat in this passage is the casual mentioning of the fact that Jesus’ brothers were in the upper room. They had come to faith sometime between the resurrection and this ascension. Here’s an example of a result and fruit that was in God’s hands and in God’s timing. They doubted and mocked Jesus during His ministry. But now the witnessing has borne fruit and they are gathered with the rest of the disciples.
So my prayer is for patience and faith, that I might be faithful in trusting in the Spirit and witnessing as I have opportunity. I pray that I will leave the times and dates to the Father who by His authority will set them according to His will.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
To subscribe to Abide Daily Devotion e-mail please click here.
[1] The New International Version. 2011 (Ac 1:1–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
