Jesus is risen from the dead. At the end of 40 days, Jesus will ascend back to His Father; and 10 days later the Holy Spirit will descend from Heaven on the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 1:1-3, Luke says, “The former account I made O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the Apostles He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” (NKJV)
In Acts 1:9, He ascends into Heaven as they were standing there watching. I think they were mesmerized with wonder. The passage says, “He was taken , and a cloud received Him out of their sight”(NKJV). Some say this cloud was the same cloud that was in Israel’s camp in the wilderness, that represents the Shekinah glory of God.
Acts 1:10,11 (NKJV) continues describing what happens next. Two men, in white apparel, suddenly appear and say, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”
This brings them mentally ‘back’ to earth, and Acts 1:11,12 (NKJV) tells us “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying.” I cannot categorically say that this was the same upper room where they ate the Passover meal with Jesus the night of His betrayal. But an upper room would certainly generate a lot of memories. Let’s proceed with that in mind.
It was in an upper room, one which Jesus had chosen to eat the Passover supper with His disciples. It was in that upper room that He had washed His disciples feet. It was in that upper room that Jesus told Peter he would deny Him. It was in that upper room that the betrayal of Jesus was finalized in Judas Iscariot’s heart, and he left to go to the Jewish leaders. It was in that upper room where Jesus spoke of a new commandment being given to them. It was in that upper room where Jesus told His disciples of His departure and the about the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit, it’s work and purpose. It was in that upper room where Jesus during the Passover meal, instituted the New covenant. It was in that upper room where Jesus had prayed to His Father about His return to His Presence; where He prayed for His disciples; and where He prayed for those who would believe in Him. A lot had taken place on the evening of the Passover meal. A lot of drama. A lot of instruction. A lot of passion on Christ’s part. A lot of wonder in the minds of the disciples. Note: In the sequence of events, Jesus had washed Judas’s feet prior to Judas leaving that upper room.
Let’s revisit some of the memories. After Judas leaves the upper room, Jesus says to His disciples, John 13:31-34 (NKJV), “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately (compare those words to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:1-5). Little children (sounds like John in in letters), I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come, so now I say to you. A NEW (emphasis mine) commandment I give to you, that love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
A NEW commandment. A NEW covenant What are the implications on the OLD?
Well, this excursus must end, and we need to come back to the present moment.
I can imagine that in the recesses of their minds and also at the forefront of their thinking, thoughts are swirling. Now what?
I suggest that Acts 1:14 gives us an insight into a great mental, settling down, a quieting takes place. (NKJV) “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…”. My New Life Study Bible says that ‘accord’ means , ‘purpose of mind’. Prayer brought them into one purpose of mind. Based upon Acts 1:15-26, their united ‘purpose of mind’ moved them forward to fill the vacancy left by Judas’ departure from the 12. What I find interesting is what took place as result of their prayer and supplication. I am not questioning what they did his wrong. I want to point out that they were in transition from the OLD to the NEW. Casting lots was part of the OLD. It is perfectly appropriate to expect them to do this. This was their upbringing under the Law. They do not have a grasp of the meaning of Jesus’ words regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit and the implications of the government of the Kingdom of God in their lives.
We can understand their mindset reading Acts 1:6. When Jesus was speaking His closing words about the coming of the Spirit and their need to wait, they reveal their understanding, (NKJV) “Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?”
They are enveloped in the OLD. Their presuppositions and understanding are steeped in their heritage. The reality of the NEW has not penetrated their beings. Yes, Jesus is alive; Yes, Jesus has told them to wait for the Spirit; but that has not been fleshed out yet in their daily lives. The Spirit has not come, yet!
In Acts 1:14, they are “in one accord in prayer and supplication”. Peter stands up and says we needs to choose one to fill Judas’ vacancy; let’s cast lots. Remember, that’s the OLD. In Acts 2:1, it says (NKJV), “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come (10 days after Jesus’ Ascension), they were ‘in one accord in one place’. (They had done what Jesus told them to do.) Fast forward to Acts2:14, Peter stands up, and preaches Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, raised from the dead. What’s the difference? What’s NEW? The Spirit of God has come. OLD things have passed away, all things have become NEW. The Holy Spirit has ignited a controlled fire storm in an upper room (Acts 2:3-4,NKJV) “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.) What happens next? Peter preaches. He explains what is happening; and He preaches Christ crucified.
The foundation of the message proclaimed by Peter is that Jesus, is the Christ, the Son of God, whom God has raised from the dead. (Acts 2:33 NKJV) “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He (Jesus, emphasis mine) poured out this which you now see and hear.”
It’s not the same. Remember, OLD is out, NEW is in. What does the Lord want?
TBC
Living Words of Encouragement 