Ummmm... Really?

 

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11 ESV).

 

There are those times in my life when I “hear” God telling me to do something and my response is “Really?” I know that’s not particularly mature, but it is the truth. This must have been the same reaction the disciples had at the commission Jesus gave them just before He ascended into heaven. In our reading today He says, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (v. 8). I like the “gift” part of these words, but the “where” part is a bit off-putting.

 

Like the first disciples, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit, and he explains what this gift is for and where we will use it. Those locations had specific meanings for Jesus’ first disciples. Jerusalem was the place they were in, and the Spirit would send them to be witnesses to the people in that local area. Judea was the region around Jerusalem, where the people were a lot like them. Samaria was a neighboring region that included people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The Holy Spirit would send them to those places and then also to “the ends of the earth,” to share the good news of Jesus with people who lived far away.

 

I like the people in my “Jerusalem.” Witnessing to them is pretty easy actually. My “Judea” is a bit more difficult. I’m okay going to them, but it is a bit uncomfortable. And, my “Samaria”, well that’s even more difficult. Those people don’t look like me; they don’t act like me; and, they sure don’t like me. If that weren’t bad enough, Jesus then said we are to go to the “ends of the earth.” Let me use college football as an illustration. For me this is like Jesus saying, “Go to Texas A&M and tell them the gospel; then go to all the former students associations of Texas A&M and tell them the Gospel; then I want you to go your opponents and share with them my grace; and, finally I want you to go to Austin and tell my message to all the Texas University Longhorns.” REALLY?

 

And, He smiles and simply says, “Yep, really.” Just like Moses, I make all kinds of excuses and He gives me an answer for everyone of them, ending His commission with a smile on His face and a kind word… “I love them all. You should too!” If I’m smart, I pack my bags and start down I-35 to Austin!

 

Do you see it? Will you do it? We better. The time is short!