During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time and proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. On these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
In one of these meetings as he was eating a meal with them, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
When the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, are you going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?”
“The Father sets those dates,” he replied, “and they are not for you to know. But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
It was not long after he said this that he was taken up into the sky while they were watching, and he disappeared into a cloud. As they were straining their eyes to see him, two white-robed men suddenly stood there among them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!”
The apostles were at the Mount of Olives when this happened, so they walked the half mile back to Jerusalem. Then they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. Here is the list of those who were present:
Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James).
They all met together continually for prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
Acts 1:3-14Acts 1:3-14
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
3 For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom. 4 . While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. 5 ; ; ; . John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Is Taken to Heaven 6 While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?” b are you now going to give Israel its own king again?: Or “Are you now going to rule Israel as its king?” 7 Jesus said to them, “You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8 ; ; But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.” 9 ; After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, 10 but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. 11 They said, “Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go.” Someone To Take the Place of Judas 12-13 ; ; . The Mount of Olives was about half a mile from Jerusalem. The apostles who had gone there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, known as the Eager One, c known as the Eager One: The Greek text has “Zealot,” a name later given to the members of a Jewish group that resisted and fought against the Romans. and Judas the son of James. After the apostles returned to the city, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying. 14 The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. d met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind: Or “met together in a special place for prayer.” The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers.
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Waiting. The lull between what has happened, and what comes next. Waiting comes in many varieties. Some waiting is full of expectation, like a child waiting for Christmas morning. You’re so excited that you can hardly sleep. Waiting can be informed of the future while still unaware of the end. Waiting for a love one to pass from this world, knowing the end is near. Waiting can be full of resolution; imagine the man on death-row, resolved to his fate. Nothing can stop the approaching moment. Nothing can speed it up, either.
I suppose saying that waiting is a lull is not entirely accurate. Waiting is filled with opportunities. Many are missed altogether, the focus elsewhere. Some are mishandled or squandered due to lack of vision. How many lives are squandered, waiting for something to happen before taking the next step? Never doing the ministry God has planted in your heart because you are waiting for perfect circumstances… Wrecking a relationship in hopes of that perfect job…
The disciples are at a loss in the beginning of Acts. They are waiting. What are they to do? Jesus is gone. He has been openly crucified. They put their hopes in this man. He has completely altered their expectations. How can they settle for the life of a tax collector… a fisherman… They have seen God act, have heard God’s call. But now what?
The first hours must have been hard. Not only are their expectations completely up-turned, they know that they have run as cowards from their master and teacher. Would he forsake them? Would they ever hear from him again? Were they without hope?
Jesus resolves the matter by interacting with his disciples. He begins the process of preparing them for a completely new life. But it involves more waiting. God is doing something. Why can’t it just happen? Why all the meetings with Jesus to look at the scriptures and explain the prophecies? Why all the discussions about what God is doing, what his kingdom is like? Couldn’t he just get to it? They keep asking, “Now? Is it now?”
“No.” they hear repeatedly. “Wait.” They cringe. “There’s more you don’t understand.”
Jesus takes his exit. They look on, stunned. Once again, now what? All they know is they’ve been told to stay in Jerusalem. The Spirit is coming. What are they waiting for? And why is Jesus leaving? Why doesn’t he just stay? Why must they wait for him, too? They are scanning the scriptures. They are praying. They are waiting.
We know some of the end of their questions. The spirit will come. He will completely alter the existence of this band of believers. He will empower them to send the message around the world. Literally to the ends of the earth. He will give them power to spread a new form of life, the Church. But we don’t know when Christ will come back. Soon, we hope. We don’t know all the details why, but we know that it is his grace, not wanting any to perish, that motivates the wait. It is his deep love for us today that kept him from returning earlier.
All this waiting! Are you tense with expectation? Are you sick of the stress? Are you taking advantage of the time you still have? Or have you given up? God wants this wait to be active. He has purpose for you. He has a plan. He is not sitting around waiting for the end. He is still actively pursuing the lost. So let’s keep up the pace.
prayer
God, thank you for sending your spirit. Help me to wait for Jesus’ return by actively seeking my friends, my neighbors, my family. Give me power to serve you, and patience to find the right opportunities; the moments you have prepared to work and move in a powerful way.
God thank you for being my sacrifice! I offer my failings to you. Do something with them, turn them into good that I cannot see. Keep on forming me in your image, in the image of your Son.
Jesus, come soon!
Amen
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