Acts
1:1-11
After a two mile walk, Jesus and His disciples finally arrive on the Mount of Olives, near Bethany. The disciples ask their final question to Jesus, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” What a question! They seem to still be laser focused on the restoration of the earthly kingdom of David. Jesus says, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.” The answer: Stay Focused, Look up and stop looking down, take one step of faith at a time, Concentrate on Obedience and Stop trying to figure out when Jesus will come back and establish His Kingdom. Then Jesus lifts up His hands and blesses them. As He is blessing them, He is lifted up in the air. As He rises in front of them, He gives them His fifth and final commission. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The key word in Acts 1:8 is the word “AND” which is repeated four times. Instead of AND we have placed a FULL STOP as if Jesus has given us an option. Some of us have chosen to be witnesses ONLY in Jerusalem or ONLY in Jerusalem and Judea to our own people. Some of us have chosen to be witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria to beyond our people group but still speaking our same language. But Jesus did not give us that option. He said AND the end of the earth. Where is the end of the earth? People groups who do not have God’s Word in their language are the end of the earth spiritually. Geographically they are in our country or in neighbouring countries. The word YOU in Acts 1:8 is a singular personal pronoun. It means each of us has a part to play in reaching the last part of the earth, those who still do not have the Gospel in their language. This commission is not only for some followers of Christ. It is for all of us who call Jesus Lord.
As Jesus finishes this blessing, He is carried up into heaven and disappears from their sight. Meanwhile, as the disciples stand gazing up into heaven, two angels are standing next to them in white robes. They ask the disciples, “Men of Galilee why do you stand looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem; they worshiped and were filled with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. There they wait to be clothed with the Holy Spirit and with power from on high to expand Jesus’ disciple making movement of multiplication to the end of the earth.
Personal Reflections
- Have I replaced AND in Acts 1:8 with FULL STOP in my Bible and in my witness?
- How can I play my part in giving the Gospel to those who do not have God’s Word in their language?
This Pentecost season join other Christ followers to give God’s Word to those who do not have the Good News in their language.
Thank you for giving the Living Word to the Bibleless.
GIVE GOD'S WORD TO THE BIBLELESS
GIVE NOW!
The Journey
To Be Continued...
01
Walk to Emmaus
Jesus begins walking along the road with two disciples who have left the other disciples in Jerusalem and the upper room, and have decided it is time to go home.
02
Fishers of Men
Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. -John 21:1
03
Ascension
On earth, just a handful of Galileans watched in awe as Jesus ascended. Two heavenly beings arrived, confirming that the post-resurrection appearances of the last 40 days were now over-but for a few exceptional occurrences.
04
Pentecost
It was the Day of Pentecost, 50 days after the Passover. Pentecost, the Feast of Harvest or Weeks