January 2, 2023 -- Acts 1:6-11 -- The Acts of the Apostles: As Jesus' witnesses
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking 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.”
Acts 1:6-11 ESV
The disciples were asking questions, trying to set their agenda and Jesus didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, He gave them the Father’s agenda and then told them how they’d carry it out, which is by the power of the Holy Spirit. It might have seemed as odd to them then as it does to us today. How can such a small company of people bring the Good News of Jesus Christ into all the world? Jesus answers in these ways.
It is the Father Who has the authority over all of time and history. He knows the end from the beginning and the people loved by Him trust Him.
The disciples are Jesus’ witnesses. Because of Jesus’ great obedience and Self-sacrifice, we know the love of our Father in heaven. This is why the agenda is set: to declare Jesus so that all who know Him, know the Father.
The Holy Spirit will make clear the Word of the Father (the Bible) and the work of Jesus so that those who are God’s will declare him. It is part of their D.N.A.
Jesus ascends into heaven. Christians know Jesus is at the right hand of the Father. Directing all things, subjugating all things, until one day even death itself will be defeated and the Son will hand all things over to the Father. Jesus rules in power and because of His saving work, the Father’s love is poured out so that Christians are blessed with Jesus’ resurrection power.
There is a goal: Jesus will return. Our LORD of Glory—King Jesus—will return as the Victor and The Devil, Sin and Death will be no more.
It is a final declaration of Jesus’ divinity, that His followers should be His witnesses (verse 8). In the Old Testament we read: “you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and I am God” (Isaiah 43:12 ESV). In the Old Testament the people of God and His prophets, priests and kings were witnesses to the work of the Father and His great covenant love. Now, in Jesus Christ, we see how the Father's love has been so radiantly revealed so we are witnesses for the Father and the Son by the power of the Spirit.
O LORD our God, under the shadow of Your wings let us hope. You will support us, both when infants, and even to gray hairs. When our strength is from You, it is strength; but, when it is our own, it is feebleness. We return to You, O LORD, that from their weariness our souls may rise towards You, leaning on things which You have created, and passing on to Yourself, Who has wonderfully made them; for with You is refreshment and true strength. Amen.
St. Augustine (354 - 430 A.D.)
https://youtu.be/5lfTS6zj2wo
Michael Card "Joy in the Journey"
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