On the Journey to Pentecost
We’re all on the journey to Pentecost together. A journey from doubt to belief. From fear to faith. From failure to maturity. We’ve seen Jesus rise from the grave and appear to the disciples. We’ve seen salvation and the Spirit given. We’ve seen Peter restored. Now we move into the book of Acts and the last recorded appearance of Jesus to his disciples. Here the power of the Spirit is promised and explained.
Acts 1:1-11
“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[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] 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.” (Acts 1:1-11)
Active Waiting
Jesus continued to appear many times to many different disciples in the time after his resurrection and before his return to heaven. He proved his resurrection to them and continued to teach them. The time between Easter and Pentecost is a time of active waiting as Jesus is preparing the disciples for the next steps he has for them. Jesus gives the disciples an important instruction: they are to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A key thing to recognize is that God desires to give people good gifts. A gift that God gives is never something to be afraid of (Matt 7:7-11). The disciples needed to wait for the gift of the Spirit so they would have the empowerment for ministry. It can be tempting to try and do things on our own or to run ahead of the Holy Spirit, but just like trying to start a road trip without gas in your car, it’s not going to go well. The disciples had to trust in the promise of Jesus, that the Spirit was coming and that it was a promise worth waiting for.
You Will Receive…
After this instruction to wait in Jerusalem the disciples respond with a question. They wonder if Jesus is now going to restore the kingdom to Israel. To this point, they still have some hopes of a political theocracy with Jesus and themselves as leaders. This desire is from the Old Testament prophecies concerning the restoration of Israel.[1] However, as has occurred before, Jesus will disappoint them by offering something different than they expect. Jesus responds that their question about timing is not one that he will answer, it is really beside the point. However, he does offer a different answer. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
We need to pause here as this verse will “…serve as the theme, setting the stage for all that follows in Acts.”[2] We tend to place a lot of value on someone’s last words. I remember just before my Grandpa passed away, I was able to write back and forth with him and I still have the last note he ever wrote me. This statement from Jesus is his last recorded teaching to the disciples in-person. This is important. Witness is clearly a key theme in the book as Luke uses the term 39 times in Acts and we really need to see Acts through the lens of witnessing.[3] A witness speaks to what they have seen and experienced. A witness is one who testifies. The disciples will give witness to Jesus Christ spreading outwards geographically from Jerusalem.[4]
The reason the disciples must wait in Jerusalem is for the baptism of the Spirit which is how they will receive the power to witness. But wait a minute, have they not already received the Spirit? “21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22). In John, the disciples receive salvation and the indwelling of the Spirit and this marks the beginning of the church. But it is interesting to note that during this ‘in between’ phase, the disciples are not yet witnessing. They are instructed to wait for something more.
After giving the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus returns to heaven before their eyes and two angels tell them that Jesus has returned to heaven and will come back in the same way. The disciples are not to wait around looking up at the sky for Jesus. Jesus has fulfilled his mission and “As King he will pour out the promised Holy Spirit and will finally come again.”[5] What an eventful day this must have been for the disciples. Perhaps somewhat bewildered, perhaps somewhat excited, the disciples return to Jerusalem to wait and pray for the promised Holy Spirit.
Conclusion and Application
- Jesus instructs the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit
- For us the same wisdom holds. Obey the instructions of Jesus and wait for the Spirit
- Running ahead of the Spirit or trying to do things in Jesus’ kingdom without the Spirit is not a good idea
- The promises that Jesus gives are good and Jesus desires to give you a good gift
- Sometimes we have to be patient and wait for the gift, but don’t stop seeking the gift
- Trust Jesus, the wait will be worth it!
- The Holy Spirit provides the power to witness
- Seek the power of the Holy Spirit
- The church needs the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the mission of witnessing
We’re all on the journey to Pentecost together. A journey from doubt to belief. From fear to faith. From failure to maturity. From human power to Spirit power. Let’s keep walking together.
[1] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 381
[2] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 381
[3] Barker and Kohlenberger III eds, Expositors Bible Commentary Abridged Edition: New Testament, 1994, pg 381
[4] Arrington and Stronstad eds, Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary, 1999 pg 538
[5] Arrington and Stronstad eds, Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary, 1999 pg 539
