“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” (Acts 1:12-14, NRSVUE)
At first read, this passage seems innocent enough. The disciples gathered in the upper room and were praying. Just what we should all be doing, right? Yet, we also have to recall the circumstances surrounding this. This passage comes right after Jesus’ ascension. It is after Jesus had spent forty days with the disciples, after his resurrection, and his subsequent giving of final instructions to them before he rose to sit at the right hand of God. How do you think the disciples were feeling? What was running through their minds? Jesus had already departed from them once, and here he was – gone again. What were they to do?
It has been said that in the days after Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples were gathered in the upper room, huddled behind locked doors in fear for their lives. Was the same thing happening here? Had they once again run back to the comfort zones, as so many of us often do when facing difficult circumstances? Or was it something else?
Just before he was lifted up, Jesus told them that something was going to happen. He said that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8) and because of that, they would “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (1:8). Surely this was running through all their minds as they gathered in that upper room. Surely these words of Jesus were mulling about in their interpersonal discussions and divine prayers. Surely this was the promise that they were pondering.
So, I ponder – is it what we consider as well? Do we, individually and collectively, consider Jesus’ proclamation that we will receive the Holy Spirit, and with it will come power that enables us to be bold witnesses in our community and surrounding region? Do we really understand this, receive it, and grab hold of it with all that we are?
In just a couple of days we will celebrate Pentecost, the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon the whole Body of Christ – the receipt of that which Jesus promised. We have been given all that we need to be witnesses for Jesus in the world today. The question is – are we just sitting around in a room behind closed doors hoping the world will change, or are we using the divine power that we have been given to make a difference, just as Jesus desires of us?
Always pondering,
Pastor Steve
