Based on Acts 1:3-14
It had been three years! Three years of following the best leader, mentor and friend the world had ever seen. Three years of waking up with eager anticipation for what he would do next. Three years of not having to worry about the day’s agenda because they didn’t have to lead, only follow. And follow him they did. Every day. Anticipating the moment when he would claim the throne of Israel, free them from their Roman enemies and set up God’s eternal Kingdom on Earth.
But then he was killed, in what felt like the blink of an eye. Soldiers captured him at night, and by the next afternoon he was crucified. All hope was lost. They watched their leader, friend and mentor murdered for crimes he didn’t commit. It was terrifying. They wondered if they would be next? It was heart wrenching. They lost a close friend in the most brutal form of capital punishment ever invented. Can you imagine their thoughts, feelings and emotions? How would you feel if you lost a friend or mentor in this way?
But then Jesus rose from the dead. He proved the grave had no power over him. Although everyone they had ever known who had died was still dead, here was their hero—their leader and mentor—alive, against all odds. That was the moment the disciples asked Jesus,
“Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?”
In other words, “Okay, Jesus. Now we get it. You had to die and come back to life so the Romans would understand they can’t kill you. Now that you’ve proven you’re more powerful than them, are you going to claim the throne and finally free us from their oppression?” It kind of sounds like a superhero movie. You know that moment when the bad guys think they’ve killed the superhero, but to their dismay they see him rise up out of the ashes of a building or lift up a demolished semi-truck unharmed? I think the disciples felt Jesus’ resurrection would have the same affect on the Roman rulers, fear then surrender.
They still didn’t get it. They still thought Jesus’ mission was to free them from Rome, but Jesus wanted to free them from so much more.
“It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.”
In other words, “whether or not God will free you from Roman rule is not your business.”
Jesus offered better news,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus wanted so much more for them than simply salvation from Rome. He wanted them to experience what Paul would later call the fruit of the Spirit, “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). He wanted their souls to be free. He wanted their minds to be free. He wanted them to experience the power, hope and unity that only comes through the Spirit (Ephesians 2-3). He had an abundant life for them, but it would take his departure for them to experience his best. (I think it works this way for us too.)
And then Jesus left by rising up into the clouds until he disappeared. I don’t think the disciples believed he was really gone because they didn’t leave until angels told them to leave. Has anything ever shocked you, and all you could do was just stare, not believing it really occurred? Now you know how they felt. Eventually they obeyed the angels, left, went to a second-story room in Jerusalem that was big enough to hold all of the remaining Jesus followers and then waited. And waited. And waited. That’s why we are discussing this story in a series titled: “What’s Next?” Can you imagine the “What’s Next?” questions they were experiencing? What do we do now that our leader is gone? What’s next for those of us who are left? What do we do while we’re waiting?
Don’t you hate waiting? Right now my wife and I are in a season of waiting. Waiting for a new job to start. Waiting for a closing on a house so we can close on another house. Waiting for inspections to come back to know if we get to close on the house. It’s tough to wait. What are you waiting for right now? Does it feel like time is almost standing still? Isn’t that the worst?!
That’s how the disciples felt. Their hero, mentor and leader was gone. Their friend had left, never to return. And they were left waiting for a promise to come true. Now while they were waiting, they still did a few things that can help us too. They “constantly devoted themselves to prayer.” In other words, they did what Jesus had done when he was on earth. He prayed A LOT. When he was gone, they followed his example and prayed a lot too. Secondly, they worshipped in the temple, blessing God (Luke 24:52-53). They sang songs. They talked about all of the amazing things God had done. Finally, they discussed the Scriptures. All of this, while they were waiting.
They prayed, worshipped, discussed the Scriptures and waited. Sounds a lot like our lives, doesn’t it?
Maybe there’s a challenge in this for us too. When we are waiting, maybe we could spend more time praying, worshipping and discussing the Scriptures. By doing this, I bet we find the strength to keep waiting on God’s promises to come true. I bet we will find encouragement from our friends who are also waiting, especially when we get to celebrate with them upon the completion of God’s promises in their lives.
My friends, when we don’t know what to do, and the person on whom we’ve depended for direction and advice is not around anymore to help, may we pray, worship, study the Scriptures and trust that the same God who promised to send the Holy Spirit to the disciples and then was faithful to do what he promised, is the same God who is faithful to us too. And the best news, is that we don’t have to wait on the Holy Spirit. He’s already here to help us wait and to wait with us. How fascinating?! We serve a God who waits with us.
