HOUR Act 1:6-8

Theme: HOUR

Act 1:6-8

What we are about to hear in the second reading tonight happened right before Jesus Ascension.
The disciples gather together and asked Jesus two questions, ‘Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel?’ These were the last two questions asked by the disciples, face to face with Jesus, right before JESUS Ascension.

From these two questions, we know that the disciples still have not fully understood Jesus mission. The disciple frame of mind was still trapped in the old paradigm. ‘Are you going to restore the kingdom of Israel?’ They were still expecting the restoration of national Kingdom, David’s Dynasty i.e. Israel. But, what Jesus has included in his mission extend beyond the Israelites. It includes the whole world, beyond Israel and beyond Jews. It includes Gentiles, all of us. The disciples were expecting a return of the old things; Jesus told them they would be “witnesses” of a new thing.

As for the first question, ‘Has the time come?’…… Jesus respond was that it was not for them to know times & dates which the father will decide.

In another words, Jesus told them that your questions are irrelevant. What was important was that you will receive power from the Holy Spirit. At that solemn hour when Christ was about to turn over the world itself to the eleven disciples, he turned to the subject of the HOLY SPIRIT.

As Jesus began HIS public life with the descent of the HOLY SPIRIT, so the disciples were to begin their mission to the world with the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.