Acts 1:4–5
[4] And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; [5] for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (ESV)
“So what do we do now?”
I can imagine that Jesus’ friends were asking him that question after being with him for 40 days after his resurrection. “You are here, Jesus. You are alive! Let’s conquer the world, together!” As they stood together, waiting for Jesus to speak, it is easy to imagine that they would be eager to go uproot injustice and confront their Roman oppressors. They wanted to do what many others tried (and failed) to do. The time- it seemed- was “now.”
That’s not a bad idea. But it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t nearly enough for Jesus.
Jesus didn’t tell them to “Go.” He told his eager friends to “stay and wait.”
And this is how Jesus planned to bring his kingdom: through people who would wait.
I am sure those men enjoyed hearing “wait” the same way we respond when we are told to wait on something we want. Or, at least, I know how I would respond if I were there…and my impatience probably would have made the Bible, but not it the good way.
The Spirit of Truth leads us to consider why “waiting” was faithful. Waiting for the Spirit to fill Jesus’ people was the very best idea for Jesus to jump start his mission in his world, ending injustice and oppression by ending the rule of our selfish hearts.