After He rose from the dead, Jesus spoke to the disciples:
"...Wait for the Promise of the Father, which you have heard from Me..." (Acts 1:4)
Wait.
"You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
After 40 days, Jesus "while they watched, was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight and they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up." (Acts 1:9-10)
They waited.
First for the Promise Jesus had spoken of -- to receive power and to be witnesses
Second for His return
Third for the Holy Spirit to come upon them
We wait too.
We have this promise
We receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior,
who gives us the power to be witnesses
We too look steadfastly toward the heavens for His return.
The disciples and many others waited -- Together as one in prayer.
Ten days, long days, endless days.
And then it was Pentecost, a Jewish observance, celebration, but of special significance for these new believers.
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting ... and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:2-4)
They waited.
They received.
They remembered Jesus' words to them:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
And so they went forth.
And we ...
we go forth too, making disciples, baptizing, teaching them, remembering The Lord's mighty power and unconditional love is with us always.
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