6 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.”
Acts 1:6-8
I am trying to imagine this scene when the disciples were together with the risen Christ. They must still be reeling from the fact that they see their Savior in their presence after they had laid Him to rest in a tomb just 43 days earlier. The question they asked about Jesus (The Messiah) restoring the nation of Israel was because of the prophesy of Ezekiel 36 and Joel 2 which connected the coming of the Kingdom with the outpouring of the Spirit whom Jesus had promised.
Jesus responds to them with the fact that it is not for them to know the times or seasons (eras) that the Father has set for His plans. We know that the earthly Kingdom comes with the return of Jesus, but we don’t know when that is. Then Jesus says that all important word that precedes important info in God’s Word…BUT. Jesus says that the disciples will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and that they will be His witnesses in all the surrounding areas and ultimately to the ends of the earth.
“Witnesses” in this context are people who tell the truth about Jesus Christ. The Greek word used means “one who dies for his faith”. The disciples know what the power of the Holy Spirit is like; they received this power when they went on the mission trip Jesus sent them on and other specific times of equipping when God was using them for His purposes. This power came in the form of saving, guiding, teaching, and miracle-working. I believe that the Holy Spirit still pours out these powers at His discretion even to this day.
APPLICATION
I need to live like Jesus could return any moment. I often think about how embarrassing and shameful it would be for the Lord to return through the clouds at the moment of sinful thoughts or actions. Although I don’t know when the Lord will come back, I know that I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit Who comforts me, guides me, and strengthens me to do the will of Jesus. It takes me keeping my nose in His Word, my thoughts in prayer, and an unending worship of the One who gave me eternal life.