Day 878: The job at hand - Acts 1 vs 1 - 9

1-2 The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom. 4-5 Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7-8 He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” 9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts 1:1-9 World English Bible

The 'first book' that the writer of today's study was referring to, was 'The Gospel according to Luke'. And when he wrote that book he began it by saying: “Many people have already applied themselves to the task of compiling an account of the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used what the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed down to us. Now, after having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, I've also decided to write a carefully ordered account for you, most honorable Theophilus. I want you to have confidence in the soundness of the instruction you have received.” (Luke 1:1-4)

So Luke had already written of the first part of what Jesus had come to do. Now he plans to tell Theophilus of what happened next. It's still about Jesus, but did you pick up who else was going to be a big part of the history of the Church?

Three times in the first nine verses Luke speaks of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke to the disciples of a coming day when they would be 'baptized in the Holy Spirit' and would 'receive power' to be His witnesses to the world. What is a very important truth about Jesus that they would bear witness to? (vs 3)

Over a period of six weeks Jesus had given the disciples clear evidence that He was indeed the same person who they’d seen put to death on a cross, and buried in a tomb. The resurrection of Jesus was not wishful thinking on their part, or a figment of their imagination. It really happened. And at the end of those 6 weeks another marvellous event took place, which Luke describes almost casually. (vs 9) They saw with their own eyes how the man they’d known for over three years, ascended into heaven. Jesus had told them He was returning to the Father, and that is what He did that day. But what was one of the things Jesus had to address before He left them? (vs 6)

He had to remind them of where they were to focus their attention and their priorities. Like so many people today, those first disciples were curious about how and when God's Kingdom would appear. Would Israel be the main focus? Was it a matter of restoring the Kingdom that David had once ruled? Would the Romans who were ruling over Israel at that time be overthrown? What can we take, even for our own hearts, from Jesus' reply? (vs 7-8)

Even Moses, a man who had many personal encounters with God, was obliged to say to Israel “the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children for ever.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) Yes, Jesus did give the disciples a broad outline of what to expect in the future, and later gave more insight to the apostle John, which John wrote down in the book called Revelation. But we still don't know the exact times or seasons set by the Father. And, rather than focus on all the latest speculations about who the Antichrist might be and whether another temple will be built in Jerusalem, the job at hand is still to make Jesus known to all the people of the world. Those first disciples have done their part – but until Jesus returns, our job isn’t finished. May we ever seek to be involved in telling the world about Jesus.