By Phil Wood
After his suffering,
he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.
He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of
God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:
"Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which
you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days
you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
Then they gathered
around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the
kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them:
"It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his
own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he
was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
Acts 1:3-9
One of the best ways to really engage in Scripture and to
truly comprehend the magnitude of what is being told, is to put yourself into
the scene and imagine it is happening before your very eyes. Jesus spoke the
words above in the last moments of his last appearance before ascending into
heaven. Only the eleven apostles were with him. So to be present in this scene,
you'll need to imagine yourself as one of the Eleven. I get to be Philip
because, well, he's my namesake. You'll have to pick the one you think is most
like you.
In Matthew's account they are at the Mount of Olives, just
outside of Jerusalem. Other accounts don't mention a location, but state only
that they were "at table" or, as in this account, they were simply eating
together. Wherever it was, they were probably out of doors in broad daylight because,
in the next few sentences, they're watching Jesus disappear into the clouds. So
let's put ourselves at the Mount of Olives, maybe having a picnic together.
I picture us sitting in the shade of an olive tree, with a
few rock outcroppings and some scattered vegetation around. Olive trees have a
very distinct scent. Can you smell it on the breeze?
We're enjoying some intimate moments together with a guy we
watched being cruelly put to death just 40 days ago. How does one even process that?
How do you even come to grips with the fact
that he was dead and now he's alive, and here we are sitting around chatting
with him, enjoying his company. It feels good to me, kind of like old times,
though I know it's short lived. I can feel my head going back and forth in
disbelief. Can this really be happening?
Obviously, we apostles still haven't put it all together
about what the prophets said concerning the Messiah and his kingdom. Jesus has
just told us we're about to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and we just skip
right over that and want to know if now is the time he's going to take command
and restore Israel to self rule.
I don't know about you, but I can't really focus on that
discussion. In my mind I'm going, "Wait a second. Hang on. What was that
part about being baptized with the Holy Spirit? What does that mean, exactly?
Because that sounds like something very big and very important is about to
happen to me and, you know, I'm not quite sure if I'm ready."
Jesus isn't about to get off track, either, so he goes on to
say, "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth." Then, before any of us can ask another question, he's gone.
Now we're all standing here, looking up at the sky. It has
become very quiet. The breeze is blowing through my hair and I feel a little
shiver go up my spine. I wonder if I'll ever see my friend again. And I wonder what is about to happen. Jesus just told
me that, in a matter of days, at an unspecified time, I'm going to be baptized
by the Holy Spirit of God! Somehow, the Holy Spirit is going to "come upon
me." I'm going to receive power. And I'm going to be changed forever.
Something has been triggered in me and I'm now in full alert
mode. I'm watching. I'm nervously awaiting whatever is going to happen.
You? As another one of the apostles in this account, all
this is about to happen to you, as well. Has the magnitude of what has been
said sunk in? What thoughts are running through your head? What emotions are
you feeling? Are you excited? Overwhelmed? Confused? Scared to death?
May I suggest that you sit with your thoughts for a few
moments? Let the Spirit bring your thoughts into focus for you. Talk to God
about them. Then, after a while, let yourself drift back to the here and now.
Lord, here and now,
we're just a few days away from Pentecost. We have seen your Holy Spirit alive
and active in these days of COVID-19, here and around the world. Help us to be
watchful for what may happen very soon. Keep us alert for what the Holy Spirit
might be up to in our own hearts. Make us ready for a life completely open to the
renewing work of the Spirit. In the holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
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