Advent: The Future

Acts 1:1–3 CSB

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Luke begins by continuing the thought he Just ended at the end of his last letter. This letter is likewise to his last, an explanation to Theophilus, Theo Philus literally translates to Loved by God which means that it could be a term of endearment. His honorary title of “Most Excellent” could point to him being a Roman official or high ranking individual. The purpose of knowing who Theophilis is, helps us to understand why Luke was explaining Jesus and the Early church. Was it because he wanted Theophilis to have a better understanding, or was Luke writing to try and convince Theophilus that Jesus was King. The answer comes to us from

Luke 1:1–4 CSB

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. So it also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

Luke was giving Theophilus a ordered list of events to help him to have a better understanding about who Jesus was, the same is true about the book of Acts, he is giving an ordered list of events about the life of the early church. It continues directly after

Luke 24:46–53 (CSB)

Luke 24:46–53 CSB

He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” Then he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. And while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven. After worshiping him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they were continually in the temple praising God.

and it continues from

Matthew 28:18–20 CSB

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The instructions that he gave to the disciples was to make disciples and to go out into the world. We also get to know that Jesus gave many proofs to those who saw him showing that he did rise from the dead and defeat death. Acts continues,

Acts 1:4–5 CSB

While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

Luke 3:16 (CSB) says,

John answered them all, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I am is coming. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

This baptism will be talked about in a lot more detail next year when we go through the rest of the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit was already active but the Pentecost was when each of the Apostles had the Holy Spirit rest upon them and they were filled and performed many miracle. This is an important moment in the life of the church because it confirmed that the Apostles were the next step in the work that Christ had done. This was the establishment of the early church and it was confirmed by the Holy Spirit resting upon the disciples. Acts Continues,

Acts 1:6–8 CSB

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

They wondered if this was the fulfillment of the Day of the Lord, the return of Christ where he would have ultimate victory. They asked if this was the end of everything. amos 9:11-15 says,

Amos 9:11–15 CSB

In that day I will restore the fallen shelter of David: I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name— this is the declaration of the Lord; he will do this. Look, the days are coming— this is the Lord’s declaration— when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the one who treads grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it. I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel. They will rebuild and occupy ruined cities, plant vineyards and drink their wine, make gardens and eat their produce. I will plant them on their land, and they will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them. The Lord your God has spoken.

But Jesus’ response to the disciples is interesting. He technically doesn’t answer them.

Acts 1:7–8 CSB

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This is nearly identical to an earlier passage about Jesus being asked about the end of days, but this time he indicates that he does, at this point, know when the end is. While on Earth, he did not know that is the time or the hour in Matthew 24:36. Here however, he says, it is not for YOU to know. He now has his full Omniscience back and is not limited by his human nature. So he reminds them of the call he gave them as the great commission. It is not about when the end times are coming, but about the impact we can have leading up to it.

Acts 1:9–11 CSB

After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

So Jesus goes into Heaven, not dying again, but like Enoch and Elijah before him, he is raised into Heaven and out of site. The Angels who were nearby call attention back to Earth and ask the disciples why they are looking up. This was a huge miracle, a very specific sign that everything that they had seen Jesus did, was God on Earth! That their salvation was now secure, and they probably were amazed by the sight of Christ going, but once again, the angels call their attention back to Earth and the mission they have, it is not about the Future that is coming, but what we can do NOW! Too often in our day and age, we get wrapped up in the worries of Revelation and the end of times. We however, need to be focused on the mission Jesus set out for us.

Luke 12:35–47 CSB

“Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them. If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants. But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” “Lord,” Peter asked, “are you telling this parable to us or to everyone?” The Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible manager his master will put in charge of his household servants to give them their allotted food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and starts to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, that servant’s master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.

So we should be ready, like the disciples, like the Apostles who went back to Jerusalem to listen to God’s command and wait for his Holy Spirit to come upon them.

Acts 1:12–14 CSB

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

This is why, for the next week, everyday at 6 PM my time, I will be online for a time of prayer that anyone can join in on. We will pray for the upcoming year, the ministry that this discord can be, and the sermons that we will be doing in the Pastoral Epistles and then the Book of Acts starting next week! We want this to be a place of discipleship and I am excited to see what God has in store for the quarter mark of this century… (Sorry if that made anyone feel really old). Let’s pray.