“Guess Who’s Coming!”

Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

Following his resurrection, Jesus appeared to many of his followers. And we all may be wondering why – why didn’t he just return to the Father? After all, his ministry had been completed, he had suffered in unbelievable ways at the hands of worldly opposition, he had been accused of just about every hateful and disrespectful act on the face of the earth, and the hardhearted and hardheaded people who he had to deal with every day never understood him or appreciated what He was doing for them. Didn’t he deserve to leave all of that behind, and live in joy and honor and glory once again!

Of course He deserved that, but I think that there were three reasons for those appearances. First, He had to show the world that death had no authority over Him – that He was truly alive. Second, He needed to comfort them in their sorrow, and to fill them with the joy of knowing him in a new way. And third, He wanted to reinforce the truth of one last teaching – that of the power and blessing of the Holy Spirit, which was about to come into their lives, and that His leaving wasn’t the last word.

The Book of Acts is usually seen as a historical record of the earliest days of the Church, which it certainly is, but it is so much more. More than a scholarly study, it is a series of accounts of God at work in the lives of the faithful. It is the story of how the number of the Lord’s Chosen grew by leaps and bounds. It is the story of the power of God’s Spirit and how he changed, and sustained, and blessed the lives of the most unusual folks you will ever meet. It is the story of struggle and pain and oppression, all because the name of Jesus was being proclaimed, and how faith in Christ becomes the victor over hatred.

Acts is the continuation of Luke’s gospel, and as such, is about the lives that have been touched by that gospel story, and its living and growing within the people of earth. Jesus never left anything to chance – and He wasn’t about to leave them with any lingering doubt or question. He may be leaving, but they would never be alone.

Read Acts 1:1-5

Luke begins this chapter of the glorious story by reminding Theophilus, whoever he might be, of the glory and promise of Christ’s resurrection and new life. We read very little of Jesus’ ministry though, so we can assume from this that Theophilus and others are very familiar with Jesus and all he taught. But the detail in this passage comes in the importance of all that has happened since the resurrection.

The point is that even though Christ has left the earth, His ministry has not ended, and it never will end - it will be transferred to his followers. And even they will receive divine help – instructions from the Holy Spirit have been given, and they will continue to be supported by the word of Christ, through this given Spirit. And Luke refreshes the memory of the Church, when he reiterates the words that Jesus spoke just moments before His ascension – that they would be His witnesses, that the promised help from the Lord was on the way, but that they were to stay in the city, and wait patiently until they had “been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) And that power would come to them through a new form of baptism – that which comes only from the Holy Spirit.

And Luke’s point is that this charge, this covenant, this command didn’t rest on the disciples alone – it was going to be passed down to all who had chosen to follow “The Way” of Jesus Christ. Theophilus would be one of them, and the Spirit of God would continue to fill the faithful throughout the years to come. There would, of course, be those who would refuse the Spirit’s “instructions”, and would shy away from the truth of Christ, but the word of God will never die and will live on through the lives of the faithful Church.

Read Acts 1:6-9

The disciples were still wondering about the promise that they had always heard about Messiah – that He would bring the glory of God back to Israel. They truly believed that Jesus was that very Messiah, but they had yet to experience any glory resting on their nation. As a matter of fact, they had never known anything but the animosity of the nations that occupied and surrounded them! “When, Lord? When?”

But the restoration of Israel wasn’t Jesus’ concern at that moment – His concern was the future of His faithful followers, and the impact that they would have on the unbelieving world! Was ministry in jeopardy? If it was totally up to the disciples, it was, but it wasn’t! It would be the power of God, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that would ensure that the word of God would never cease blessing the people of earth. Jesus was telling them “Don’t worry about Israel – I have a much greater responsibility for you. You will be the means of spreading my restorative power to all the earth!”

And the Lord Jesus returned home, at last! And the faithful were alone again, but not for long. The Holy Spirit would be coming upon them – but how long? Jesus never did tell them when, just that it would happen, and that they were to wait patiently until He did.

Waiting is never easy, is it? It’s kind of like a child waiting for the arrival of Christmas morning – the days drag even while the anticipation grows. The only hope for the child is that the signs are all around, announcing the hope of Christmas day, and their personal knowledge that each day that is crossed off the calendar means that the day of gifts is one day closer.

And as the faithful waited – not always patiently, but certainly eagerly – they, too, knew that the word of Jesus was good enough for them. The Gift of the Holy Spirit would soon be upon them, and they could hardly contain themselves. What would it be like? How would they know? What would it do for them? Would they be changed? Questions and promises, and very few answers – but it seemed that they would all be resolved in the same moment of time.

Read Acts 1:10-11

Sounds a little like Mary’s experience at the tomb on Easter, doesn’t it? 2 men in white, asking the question “What are you looking for? He isn’t here!” (Luke 24:4-8) But now the message gives them even more to think about. “It’s true that He is gone from you now, but just as he left, one day he will return to you in the same way.” And they would have begun to remember.

Hadn’t Jesus told them that he would have to leave? (John 14:28) Didn’t he promise that the Advocate, the Counselor, would come to help them? (John 16:7) To bear witness to Him? (John 15:26) To teach them and remind them of all that Jesus had taught? (John 14:26) And His words would grant them joyful hearts, even while they waited for the Day.

And now they were being reminded of one more glorious coming – that of Jesus’ return. What a day! The Spirit would soon be coming to ensure that ministry in the name of Jesus would continue to glorify God, and now they were reminded that Jesus Himself would one day return to earth to claim His Church. There had been those moments when they believed that Messiah was dead, that they would be left on their own and totally dependent on the mercy of the Jewish authorities. But now, everything had changed – not only was the day of the Spirit closing in, whatever that would mean for their lives – but now the day of Jesus’ return was also being promised by these “men in white”!

Jesus had come from God, and had returned to God. But now that the Lord had left, the Spirit would soon come, and will be given to all who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, Redeemer, and Savior of their life. And one day, Jesus will return to earth, to be acknowledged by all that he is truly Lord and Almighty. (Philippians 2:9-11)

So where does that leave each of us? It puts us in the same place that the disciples were in. Jesus Redeemer came to die for each of us, just as he did for that thief on the cross. The Father sent the Holy Spirit for each of us in faith, just as he did for the disciples and all believers. The Holy Spirit reveals to all believers, including you and me, the truth of Jesus Christ, and will lead each one to proclaim the Lord throughout the earth. And one day, Jesus Christ will come again, to rejoice in all who believe, and that also means you and me!

Are you as excited over this as the disciples were? If not, why not? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to speak words of Hope and Expectation into your heart, and are you responding to those words? If not, why not? Are you certain of the salvation that comes to all who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior? Are you know for certain that He has freed you from the hold that sin has on your life, and that He will come again one day to free you from the burdens and limitations of earthly life? If not, why not?

We have heard His word, we have received his promise, His Spirit lives within us, and what are we asked to do in return? To simply trust in that Word, to believe in that Promise, to allow that Spirit to work in and through us, and to wait in faith for Christ’s Holy Return. That is, apparently, all there is! And its enough.

Trust, believe, wait, and receive. Can it be any easier than this – to simply wait and live as Jesus leads, until the One returns.