What Did the Disciples Do as They Waited?

Prayer – Lord Jesus, You told the disciples to wait in the Upper Room for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Did they know what that meant? What did they do as they waited? We are grateful that You have given us the Holy Spirit when we first believed in You. Give us wisdom and insight as we continue to wait for future events. 

Clouds.
Jesus went into Heaven in the clouds...
and He will return in the same way.
Early morning clouds above the Columbia River.

During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, "Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?" He replied, "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!" Acts 1:3-11 NLT

 

Meditate. Consider God’s plan and the Jewish Festivals.

 

The disciples had Jesus with them for forty days after His resurrection. The Holy Spirit was given to them of the day of Pentecost, which is a Jewish Feast Day fifty days after First Fruits. First Fruits was the day of Jesus’ resurrection. God has everything planned out to the day and hour. The disciples were still expecting Jesus to “free Israel and restore our Kingdom,” but that wasn’t God’s plan. Jesus was to be a spiritual savior, not a political one.

 

Wait. That was merely what the disciples were expected to do.

They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus. Acts 1:14 NLT

Waiting can be hard—and they didn’t know precisely how long they would have to wait—so that could have created even more anxiety, but they did what Jesus had taught them all throughout His ministry. Pray. That’s a good thing to do, no matter what the day, time or occasion. Pray—connect with the Lord, just as Paul taught the church at Thessalonica. Never stop praying. That is just what Jesus’ followers did there in the Upper Room; they prayed constantly.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

That is a good example for us. Pray constantly.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 NLT

 

© 2024 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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