The instructions of jesus

The disciples were anxious to ask the question.  Their leader had died a cruel death, and now He stood before them.  He had promised He would be raised from the dead and the promise came true.  Now they found themselves on the top of the Mt. of Olives.  He had just told them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father.  He promised them that in contrast to the baptism of John, you would be “baptized in the Holy Spirit” not many days from now (Acts 1:4-5) That instruction alone should have prevented the question, but they still had to ask it.  The elephant was in the room.  The question was who was going to ask it?  Finally.  Someone did.  Luke does not tell us their name, but the question was as direct as it was eye opening.  “Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). The disciples had waited years for this end times resolution.  They were going to have to wait some more.  The answer Jesus gave was profound and far-reaching.  His answer held within it the purpose of the Church and the subsequent activity of His disciples.  He told what not to do and He told them exactly what to do. “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.”  The Spirit came just as Jesus promised. Because Jesus is pouring out His Spirit, we all have a grand purpose to be witnesses around the world. Praise God!