Acts 1:9-11
The Book of Acts is an incredible book in New Testament history. Luke gives us this account of crucifixion and resurrection in the Gospel of Luke, and here in Acts he continues to describe the events 40 days post resurrection. They had gone from despair to delight and joy to meet the resurrected Jesus who takes these broken and scattered men and puts them back together.
The first thing Jesus does is cause them, and us, to understand the power of God. He does so by speaking, and also by supernatural things taking place in those 40 days. Every question they had he answered, and every doubt was turned into assurance. They were able to witness his ministry, his death and now his resurrection. They were ready to go, yet it was not sustainable. Apart from receiving the power from above, the Holy Spirit, living a Christian life is unsustainable.
The distinction made in verse 5 about the two baptisms, gives us clarity. John’s baptism speaks to the intention of the person to change course. But it is not enough. The baptism of the Spirit is what gives us power to do what we intend to do.
So, they waited. Verse 8 gives the purpose of waiting and describes the work thereof. As much as this verse is coined as a missional verse, it is a transformational verse at its core. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to be His witnesses. It is a declaration of identity. When Jesus took the disciples just outside of Bethany where the Ascension took place in front of their very eyes, they were now witnesses. The angels asked the question – “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?”(Acts 1:11) I think that is the question we must answer in our lives today. What are we looking for or to? Insights? Clarity? Exit?
What Christ wants us to experience is His transforming power. Once we experience this power it changes us, transforms us, so we are no longer looking for the wrong things in the wrong places. We get on track with the leading of the Holy Spirit and live transformative lives that display our response to being filled with the Holy Spirit. The reason being, “this same Jesus….” (Acts 1:11) that they saw taken up in clouds, is coming back again. Our responsibility is to share this truth so that those that are broken and lost will turn from their dark ways and to the transformative power of Christ.
