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By
Dr. J. Wesley Hertel |
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 |
Scripture Verses Act 1:1-9 1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men 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. 4On 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. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 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." 9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Devotion Even though Jesus had clearly said, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), and He had told them plainly, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). Yet, on what will be their last day on earth with Him, they can’t help themselves. They ask: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” They are still envisioning an earthly kingdom. I think we too easily dismiss the disciples as just plain thick. But, it would be better for us to ask of ourselves – “Do we get it?” Jesus told His disciples that they were to be His “witnesses” to the world. As Christ’s disciples, we are to share the “good news” about God in Jesus Christ to all we meet and have contact. But, to whom have we (His disciples) witnessed in the past week? month? or even year? We think He must have just meant this for “professional Christians” – like pastors or evangelists. At least, we hope that’s what He meant. We are a lot like those first disciples. We don’t get it, or, maybe, it’s worse than that – we don’t want to get it. There’s another way we are like those disciples back then – we can’t carry out Christ’s command by ourselves anymore than they could. That’s why Jesus instructed them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised. . .in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus’ final promise before He ascended back into heaven was this: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. . .” Thankfully, He kept His promise, because we can’t do what He calls us to do alone. The “good news” is that we don’t have to! Prayer |
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