Waiting
Acts 1:12-14.
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Dear Citizens of Heaven,
After the shock of the ascension, the disciples remembered the final instructions of Jesus that they were to remain for a while in Jerusalem.
Return (v. 12).
They made their way back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. It is just across the valley from the Eastern wall. Luke tells us it was a “Sabbath day’s journey away.” This was the distance one was allowed to travel on the Sabbath day without breaking the Sabbath. This was 2000 cubits, a little over half a mile (one Kilometre). We infer from this that the ascension took place on the Mount of Olives East of Jerusalem.
Roll (v. 13).
Whoever had provided the upper room for the last supper was willing, it seems, to allow the disciples to continue staying there. All eleven are listed here, starting with the more familiar names like Peter, John, and James, but including those who are hardly mentioned in the gospel accounts. That Luke mentions each by name is in itself a statement that they are key to the proclamation of the gospel.
No one is insignificant to God. He saved each of us for his purposes and we each have a role to play in the advancement of the Kingdom.
Rally (v. 14).
The eleven, along with the women, the mother of Jesus and his brothers, devoted themselves to prayer.
Less than six weeks before, Jesus could not get the disciples to pray with him, not even James, Peter, and John (Mark 14:32-42). They had learned their lesson the hard way and now did not need anyone to prod them. They did not know how long they had to wait, but whenever the Holy Spirit promised to them came, they would be in the right frame of mind. This should apply to us too. We often have to wait. Why not spend the waiting in prayer?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.