Acts 1. 1-11: Wait for the promise

The Proof
People have sometimes suggested that the Acts should be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit.  But it would be better to describe Acts as ”The Acts of Jesus – part 2”, as Luke makes clear in his introduction (v 1).  Everything about the book called the Acts of the Apostles, is about Jesus. 

Jesus is central and all that goes before – the life,death, and resurrection of Jesus, is certain...  So in that period between rising again and being finally taken into heaven, Jesus “showed himself alive, by many convincing proofs.”, providing the proof that this resurrection thing was not just some airy-fairy idea that the Church believed, that somehow Jesus was still with them in spirit. It was concrete reality. He has dealt with sin.  He  has conquered death. Jesus is still in the business of bringing God's Kingdom. He teaches about the Kingdom and that's the bedrock on which Luke builds his story.  “The Kingdom is still the message of the Church” (Marshall)  In the death and resurrection of Jesus, that message has been developed and grown: now the decisive victory of the Kingdom has actually been won.  Jesus has died and risen again!

The Pause
On one occasion when Jesus was spending time with the disciples, probably eating a meal with them, he told them: ”Don't leave Jerusalem, but wait ...”  There are a number of instincts the Disciples have to curb: the temptation to go back home and see friends, maybe the need to earn some money (Peter had already been up to Galilee on a fishing trip); possibly a feeling of impatience for the next stage in the adventure of the Kingdom. But they are not to rush ahead into a project – however good or well-intentioned. They are to wait in Jerusalem.  This is deliberate, purposeful waiting, together, as a  community.  We need to take time to wait.  This month, as we journey towards Pentecost, we are going to wait, inviting the Holy Spirit to come. 

The Promise
They are to wait for the promise to be fulfilled: “You shall be baptized with the holy spirit”   They had to wait specifically for an encounter with the Holy Spirit that is so comprehensive that the picture of water is inadequate on its own.  This “Baptism” from God's point of view was an “outpouring”: God says “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh...” (Joel 2. 28-32).  From the Disciples' point of view it meant that they would be immersed, drenched, in the Holy Spirit, and in that drenching, initiated into life in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit would come upon them in power.  “Don't leave town without the Holy Spirit!”  There is quite literally nothing we can do without the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

The Purpose : 
The promise of a “Baptism of the Spirit” excites these disciples, as it recalled the words of John the Baptist about the Messiah a few years earlier: “He will  baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”  And they knew Jesus was the Messiah.  He had won the big “Kingdom Victory” on the Cross.  So as he says “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit”, they naturally thought such a baptism would precede the final triumph of the Kingdom.   They were getting  this baptism to enable them to be part of that final triumph. 

Well, yes... and no.  Yes, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was part of the Joel Prophecy of the “Last days”.   There are three problems  with this question, that Jesus tackles in his answer...
Tribe.  The disciples were asking about Israel. But the coming of the Spirit was about witness to all people: Jerusalem,   Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth – even Scotland!
Timing.   The disciples wanted the final victory now; Jesus had already talked about troubles before the end (Lk 21) and wanted the time for the Gospel to go to all nations. The “Last days” means that extended period when the good news goes out to all nations. 
Triumph.    The disciples thought the restoration of Israel would mean political authority and power for them.  They had already shown their desire for positions of authority (see Mark 10. 35ff).  Jesus says “These dates the Father has set by his own authority.  It's about God's authority not yours.  But you shall have power, and shall be my witnesses.”  The disciples craved political, fleshly authority and power.  Jesus offered Spiritual authority and power,

The very experience of being a witness is a fulfillment of Old testament Prophecy: see Isa 43.10.  So when the Spirit comes, the immediate Kingdom event is not the triumph of Israel, but witness. They were being baptized with the Holy Spirit in order to equip them for witness, continuing the ministry of Jesus, that was going to be a vital, long-haul necessity until he returns. 

We sometimes regret the loss of power in our world. So we talk about a time when “this was a Christian Nation”, people “respected the Church”' and the country was run on Christian principles.  But the world at the time of the Early Church was certainly not run on Christian principles. The Roman world was as debauched, cynical and violent as ours.  Yet that godless world was the one in which the Church experienced exponential growth.

We want to live in a world that says “Jesus is Lord,” and looks to the Church to tell them how to live.  That is fleshly authority – it comes from man.  Spiritual authority can live in a world that says “Caesar is Lord” and has the authority and power to say “No, Jesus is Lord!”.  Spiritual authority comes from God. It enables us to be prophetic, compassionate, and effective witnesses in our hostile world.

The Parting.
And those were his last words... Having  insisted that the Spirit's coming would equip the disciples for witness, Jesus was taken up from the disciples in to the clouds.  And that means that everything has changed.  They – and we – don't have Jesus in physical form to run to with our questions.  As He said to Mary at the tomb, “Don't hold on to me...”  No wonder they were looking up at the clouds as though wishing they could turn the clock back just a few minutes.
But that doesn't mean absence. It means anointing, in anticipation of his return, when he will triumph completely.  He is going to come back, in the same way they saw him go.  The anointing is for that period, between his ascension and his return... so that we can be witnesses... to Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth – even Scotland! 

© Gilmour Lilly May  2013