Scripture: Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Acts 1:12-14 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, gathered with their Lord, the Eleven do not fully understand the nature of his kingdom and ask Jesus when he will restore it to Israel. Jesus graciously reminds them, as he clarified regarding the parousia (Mark 13:32), that only the Father knows these appointed times. So rather than address their misunderstanding, Jesus turns their attention to their mission: wait on the Holy Spirit, who will empower them to move out and witness the Gospel to the ends of the earth, beginning with Jerusalem. Then, immediately, Jesus ascends in a cloud out of their sight. As the disciples gaze upward, two men dressed in white (most likely angels) address the Twelve, question why they gaze toward heaven, and then assure them that Jesus will return in the same manner.
Today’s devotion begins the new era of Jesus’ apostles carrying on his mission. Unsurprisingly, we learn that Jesus’ ascension occurred at the Mount of Olives, the favorite retreat for Jesus and his disciples when visiting Jerusalem. Equally unsurprising, the Eleven returned to the upper room, where they found sanctuary after Jesus’ crucifixion and later refreshed when Jesus blessed them and breathed his Spirit on them. The Eleven, joined by Jesus’ mother and brothers and the women who attended to Jesus and his disciples during their three-plus-year mission (Luke 8:1-4) and who loyally stood watch at his crucifixion (Luke 23:49), prayed fervently in one accord in anticipation of receiving the power of the Holy Spirit 1:8).
Takeaway: We see that Jesus’ mother and brothers, who expressed concern regarding his sanity (Mark 3:21), and particularly his brothers, who doubted Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God (John 7:2-8), are now on board—likely because of the testimony of Mary Magdalene and the Eleven. Also, we learn others, perhaps Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-39), Cloepas and his traveling partner (Luke 24:28-35), and the seventy-two Jesus earlier commissioned (Luke 10:1) joined the nucleus to form a crew of about one hundred and twenty (v.15). Crowded in this upper room, they waited for the promised Holy Spirit as Jesus instructed his disciples (1:4). And they made good use of their time actively praying.
Our takeaway? Most of us find waiting to be tedious. We want to be productive, and waiting feels the opposite. But Jesus emphasized and lived out the importance of godly tarrying. Indeed, his entire mission revealed an ebb and flow of waiting, discerning, and acting according to his Father’s will to complete his mission at the foreordained time in history. Speaking of time, the authors of our New Testament use two Greek words for “time”: chronos and kairos. The former refers to an exact time, while the latter signifies an appointed or opportune time. And Jesus’ apostles and the growing number of disciples will learn the importance of waiting to act at the optimal time foreordained by their beloved Lord. Otherwise, what may be their good intentions will prove to be missed opportunities.
The same applies to us. Not only will running ahead of or behind God’s perfect timing miss the mark, but we will cheat ourselves of spiritual and emotional growth opportunities gained through actively waiting in prayer. When we prayerfully tarry, the Holy Spirit will impart invaluable insights, expose our misguided assumptions and wrongful attitudes, and spark a greater trust in God that calms our spirits and encourages us to step out in faith at the right time, motivated by a maturing love for the One who gave his all for us. Still, developing a habit of actively waiting in prayer requires patience and humility—recognizing we are prone to center our thoughts on ourselves rather than God. But when we humbly persevere, we will discover the depths of his love and grace.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who prayerfully waited on you before offering his life as a living sacrifice at your appointed time. And while we desire to follow his example of prayerfully waiting before acting, we confess that we are prone to grow impatient and struggle to turn our thoughts from ourselves to you. So would you please help us see the value in prayerfully waiting and exercising patience and humility so that we might persevere and do our part in growing your kingdom to the glory of your name? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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