Acts 1:1-14 ~ It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority

God is God. The Good News.

Acts 1:1-14

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

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.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 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.”

9 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.

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 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.”

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 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. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.


God's Will. The best way to end a prayer. Thy Will be done. Or start a prayer.

Jeremiah understood God's will.

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."




Do we trust God's Will? Honestly, we would all have to lean to "we want to." Yet when the chips are really important, we might whine like small children to God.






And Jesus replies in the New Testament outside of the Gospels.
Alive.
Warm.
Available.
Acts Chapter 1 abuts John's Gospel and the 21st Chapter - where the Disciples felt cozy enough to argue with the Victorious Son of God. Whew, good to know, whiners unite in feeling abashed and not destroyed.

Perhaps even God gets pushed and doesn't want to be conversational with prayer whiners, too. Jesus is not forthcoming to the question of getting the Roman Empire out. The Jews thought Jesus was going to be Solomon, Hezekiah and Genghis Khan rolled into Merlin. We can all say to the prophets and the Magi, again, .... Isaiah was how well understood when the Magi went to see Herod to see the new King?

People.

It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority


And going back to the point, Jesus does not reply directly to being asked about the Roman Empire. This encounter with the Disciples, 40 days after the John 21 squabble,  Jesus is more politely asked if He failed to measure up as the Messiah/Solomon/Hezekiah/Genghis Khan/Merlin King. "Hey? What about the Roman Empire???"

Wow, "What if"! What if the Disciples had behaved Loyally during the Trial and Death of Jesus.

What if the Disciples had not started asking about how long John would live. What if they had not all hidden (minus John).What if men, not women, had intended to bring the spices to Jesus' body? What if the Brothers and Sisters of Jesus were there to see the tomb was empty.  If it was the tomb of the Disciples' families tomb and, therefore, they could have held Vigil the night of His Death near His tomb?

 The sight of what they could have seen! Another Transfiguration - The Light of the World. The Body of Christ's becoming Victory over DEATH.

Maybe whining about our own way isn't such a good idea. Or not going with God, when we can.



So, if ...
we had gone like Jeremiah did to God's Will - during the time of the Trial and Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Only Son of God - and Jesus had felt like being emphatic about the Will and Plan of God instead of listening, all the time, to our complaints...

What would Jesus have said about failing to conquer the Roman Empire?

(Can YOU BELIEVE THEY WANTED TO SAY TO JESUS - HEY! Om our Government? Our Glory? Your Mission?)

What could Jesus have Said???

Ephesians 3
20 Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be the glory.

Jesus could have said, "Have Faith. The Roman Empire is going to start becoming unglued about a man's death (we know God's Son) in Judea, suburb of Syria - where no good Roman wants to be the Governor. And days will come - that will be difficult. The faith of the world will begin to rise. The love Christians have for one another will increase, the difficulty of the times will increase the desire to assist each other, fellowship will increase. Goodness will increase to speak of the comfort of Gods' Son."

"Remember that Church I told you about that doesn't exist? I told you in Caesarea. Well, when Emperor Nero burns down Rome, that area of the fire, Christians are falsely accused of killing Romans in the fire, this will eventually become The Vatican. This is where Peter is below the altar by 80 feet. His bones will exist because his grave was covered by a rock. And upon this rock, above where the Emperor will install Peter in a Church above his grave. Upon this Rock I will build my Church. Love."

And what happens to the Romans? Another -  if  - the Disciples had stayed with Jesus and could ask?




Jesus could reply something like this:

Solomon would have known.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

The Magi knew. They had this completely right.

Isaiah 60:3
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Micah the Minor Prophet knew:

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

The Disciples would come to understand.

Matthew 5:
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Jesus knew
Luke 12:14
But Jesus replied, "Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?"

Abba, our Father,

Day by day, to see Thee more clearly,
love Thee more dearly, day by day.

~ To know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now we see again Jesus is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine,
according to His power
that is at work within us.

What is the Glory of God? Where we want to dwell.

To Jesus Christ, Son of God to Him be the glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus,
His body we pray to dwell in and Jesus is us, to our loved ones,
throughout all generations, forever and ever.

Amen we boldly and confidently ask as we approach Your Throne because of
The Love and Glory of Jesus Christ God.
Amen.

 ♔ Lord Jesus Saves †