Sunday: The Beginning of a New Beginning
After His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days meeting with the disciples to confirm the resurrection and to help them better to understand the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3, 1 Cor. 15:4-7). However, even as they assembled, just before Jesus departed into the heavens, the thing uppermost in their minds was whether or not this was the time for Jesus to finally conquer the Romans (Acts 1:6).
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Their own ideas of what should happen were so strong that they simply did not listen to what Jesus had been saying to them. Even after three and a half years of close instruction (the equivalent of a university degree), from the best Teacher the world has ever known, the disciples still had many wrong notions to unlearn.
Read Acts 1:6-8. In the face of such ignorance how did Jesus answer?
Jesus focused on the real issue rather than wasting time trying to correct their every misunderstanding. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit was far more important than political discussion.
After watching Jesus ascending into the clouds and disappearing, the disciples noticed two men standing by them. The two men told them that Jesus would return. Just as He was accepted into heaven as a conquering King, so He will come again as the King and Conqueror they dreamed of when they asked Him about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. But that day will surpass even their greatest dreams-for He will come as King of all creation, not just king of a piece of land in the Middle East.
The eleven disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, their heads swimming with memories and their hearts glowing with the truths revealed by Jesus (at least the ones they understood). But they needed something more. Jesus told them to wait for a few days until the Holy Spirit baptized them (Acts 1:4-5), for though the enemy had been defeated, he wasn’t done yet, and they would need power from on high in order to do what Jesus had called them to do.
Read Acts 1:14. What was the major difference in how the disciples related to each other now, as compared to before, such as seen in Matthew 20:20-24, and what message is there for us in this change of attitude? In what ways can you put aside self in order to prepare for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
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Looking back two thousand years or so it may seem perplexing that Christ’s disciples held this stubborn mindset that Jesus would restore the temporal kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6). However they did not come to this position overnight, having found a master with unusual power.
For many years the eminent scholars, religious leaders and prominent voices had drilled these ideas into the people; for it would best suit their purposes of increased wealth, celebrated status and other worldly gain. Through parables and sermons it was the Messiah’s challenge to reeducate the misguided generation on the ways of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 22:1-14).
Jesus did His best to direct the minds of His followers heavenward (Mark 8:33), but many seemed trapped in an earthly trance thinking this is all they have. They just need an uprising to fix it, to rebalance the civil inequalities, modify the political structures and install leaders with a vision for an improved society (John 18:36).
Not much has changed. Interestingly there are many in Christendom and probably Judaism who are still looking forward to the grand restoration of the glory days of Israel (1 Samuel 4:21-22). Many have been indoctrinated to invest in this world (Matthew 6:19-21) and focus on that which they can see (Philippians 3:18-20).
That it has taken so long for Christ to return some among the remnant may have given up hope in the Second Coming. They may resign themselves to just focus on earth, do a little good here, leave a legacy in their name, and in the process enjoy what they can of this world’s resources. To these the Savior might say, “It is not for you to know times or seasons…” (Acts 1:7)
Just keep trusting, allow the Holy Spirit to finish His work, and He that shall come will come (Hebrews 10:36-39).
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I would check out prejudices formed both in the periods of my life before I joined the church or religion and also after I joined church or become Christian.
I think my perception after I joined church could be more subtle as was the case for the disciples.
As the disciples in Acts 1vs 8 the world is also focused on their social n political n financial standing rather than hw much time is left to preach.The love of the world n being richer in this world has taken precedence than the zeal to spread the word for the end to come
So the disciples are more united after Christ ascends into heaven, interesting that his mother Mary is now pictured to be in prayer with the believers Acts 1:14 "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers". A lesson from all this is that many a follower derived strength from Christ's presence some maybe never even bothered to pray because their was peace when he was present, yet now he is gone . His absence awakens us to the reality that we need to constantly tap spiritual strength from him who calmed the sea, he who made the blind to see. We can not do this on our own ,the new beginning that the disciples were introduced to was that of relying on God for their every need, seeing they were accustomed to his physical presence they had to continue communing with him in spirit and this called for a constant relationship through prayer .
The author says, "Jesus focused on the real issue rather than wasting time trying to correct their every misunderstanding. The empowerment of the Holy Spirit was far more important than political discussion."
Besides submitting ourselves completely to God every moment (James 4:7), there is nothing more important than the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said we are going to be better off when the Holy Spirit comes than we were when He (Jesus) was here on earth (John 16:7). We all can't wait to see Jesus in person. He is human like us (John 1:14). We heard, saw, and handled Him when He was here. (1 John 1:1) So of course it is natural that we feel, and will no doubt always feel, a special bond with Him. At the same time, we dare not let our focus on Jesus deny in any way the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
The way many of us (I am not immune) neglect the Holy Spirit, one would believe that He is somehow less divine than Jesus. Jesus exists in "all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Col. 2:9) Isn't it true then that the Holy Spirit exists in ALL the fullness of the Godhead spiritually?
Jesus is working on our behalf as our High Priest; He is in the Most Holy Place, which is in heaven. The Holy Spirit is God and is with us (Immanuel?) right now and longing to occupy these temples for which Jesus gave up His life. I fear that God's people today misapprehend the truth of the Holy Spirit the same as His people (even His disciples!) 2,000 years ago misapprehended the nature of Jesus' mission on earth.
Similarities exist now in the way Christianity is played out and practiced. They are those whose focus and aims miss the true meaning of the gospel. Politics and jostling for positions dominate the thoughts of men and women who should be seeking guidance from Holy Spirit and working assiduously to spread the message of the good news of salvation.
Jesus, as always, spoke in the affirmative and did not dwell on the object of the disciples errant inquiry, but shared what was important for them to understand at that time.
Consider the examples of this manner of teaching by Jesus in John 3 and 4. With both Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus kept the conversation on course according to the needs of their hearts, and didn't argue with their attempts to avoid the convictions of Truth. Always speaking in the affirmative, Jesus gently led all who would be led to see and embrace Truth. He was always working to bring them freedom from falsehood and Rest from the burden of sin and it's constant guilt. In doing this, it isn't necessary to point out the error, only to uplift the Truth which will do best the work of conviction.
‘The Beginning of a New Beginning’. The disciples were told to wait for the promise, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We also need this brethren. Today’s lesson clearly states that , ‘for though the enemy had been defeated, he wasn’t done yet, and they would need power from on high in order to do what Jesus had called them to do. ‘On our own we cannot do anything (John 15:5).The new beginning is that ,yes the disciples might no longer be having Jesus Christ physically but He never left them alone (John 14:15-18).If you are left in the care of someone ,you know that you will depend on that particular person for your needs. As for us children of God, Jesus did not leave us as orphans so let us not also act like orphans. We need to be aware that the Holy Spirit is there with us. Like the disciples we need not to rush leaving the Holy Spirit behind. He is the one in control and we in turn do as the Spirit leadeth.The good thing about this ‘NEW BEGINNING’ is that the Holy Spirit can be everywhere at the same time. He is not limited by geographical locations. ’The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is important.’ The Holy Spirit is a person,is part of the God head ,the Trinity so we need not to see Him lower than who He is.Let us not just speak of Him in passing for He is the one that was left in our care,we are not alone.God the Father knows what is best for us as our creator.
In this week`s lesson I pondered about the question of the disciples as to the restoration of the kingdom by Christ at this time, at the time of baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5-6). Apart from national predjudices, what biblical reason did they have for this expectation? And what made them change their opinion when the Holy Spirit illuminated their minds?
In his pentecostal proclamation Peter is quoting Psalm 132:11 in Acts 2:30 alluding to the inthronization of the Davidic Messiah as sitting on an earthly throne at Jerusalem. However, the verse following is making this promise dependent on the condition of obedience to the covenant (Psalm 132:12). Covenant history is moving along with obedience or disobedience to that covenant, which is affirmed by the covenant oath (Psalm 132:11).
It is true, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is promised within the context of post-exilic restoration (Isaiah 32:14-18; Ezekiel 37:14 ect.) However, that promise, connected with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, was limited to only a small remnant of Judah and Benjamin restoring the temple and the city (Ezra 1:5; Zechariah 4:6). The ten tribes of the northern kingdom did not heed the call inviting them to participate in that restoration (Zechariah 2:6-7). After the last kings of Judah, Zedekiah and Jehojahin, had died (2 Kings 25:6-7;29-30), God did not cause to rise another king to restore Israel, on the contrary: The Lord had given Israel a king in his anger and took away the king in his wrath (Hosea 13:11). The covennat history moved away from earthly restoration hopes centered on a throne at Jerusalem.
The reason for the disapponitmant of the disciples (Luke 24:21) seemed to be hat their hope was based on a done-away-promise. Their hope was built on sinking sand. Now, Pentecost brought a transition of hope, away from a done-away promise of an earthly king sitting and ruling on an earthly throne at Jerusalem --- away from that towards the prophetic hope of a heavenly throne with the inthronization of Christ at that throne being the aim of His ascension. Exactly that Peter is preaching at Pentecost (Acts 2:30-34). He finds a prophetic promise in Psalm 110:1 totally overlooked up to this time. The invitation for the Messiah to sit at that heavenly throne of God in heaven is a prophetic promise of the inthronization of Christ. The outcome of which is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as a visible sign of that heavently event (Acts 2:33).
Now, the history of the covenant does not stop at Pentecost. The cosmic signs, taken from the book of Joel (Joel 2:31), proclaimed in the context of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:20), indicate that Pentecost is only an initial fulfilment leaving much room open in eager expectaion of the very last outpouring ot the Holy Spirit, prior to the great day of judgment (Acts 2:20). The ultimate outpouring of the Holy Spirit is expected at that time of the end enabling the three angel`s messages to prepare for that event (Revelation 14:6-12).
What does the Holy Spirit do in between the time of Pentecost and the great day of judment? Peter is proclaiming that the gift of the Holy Spirit is being offered in a promise to all who are willing to have the Holy Spirit work in their lives in transformation of charater preparing for the final day (Acts 2:38-39). The ultimate restoration is expected at the second coming of Christ, after His work in the heavenly sanctuary as mediator is finished (Acts 1:11; 3:21; Hebrews 7:25; 8:1-2).
We have this hope.
Winfried Stolpmann