We wanted a memory. I had just graduated from college and was heading to Japan and my best friend wanted one last memory together. He suggested skydiving. ??During the training for our first jump, the instructors kept repeating the importance of order.

    •    If your chute opens and you begin spinning, your lines are tangled and you’re in trouble.
    •    Immediately pull the chord to cut free your main chute.
    •    Pull the rip cord to open your secondary chute.
    •    Float safely to the ground.

There was order, there was progression. Many people view Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples in Acts 1:8 with that same order and progression. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” First our home town, then the neighboring areas, and finally overseas. A progressive expansion.??

But this logic doesn’t fit for several reasons. First, Jerusalem was not the disciples’ home town—they were from Galilee (1:11), easily spotted by locals as not from the city (2:7). This was not an order to “start with your hometown.” In fact, Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem (and thus not return home) until the Spirit had come upon them (1:4).??

Second, the “ands” do not mean “then” or “next.” The sentence is not set up in a progressive expansion. It indicates parallel activity. Here AND there AND over there. When we look at the needs of our world, we need tri-focal vision: we need to respond to the needs right around us, near to us, and far from us. The commission to His followers was both/and, here and there.

More importantly, Jesus’ final instructions pointed to His disciples’ source of power. Human power cannot bring spiritual results. Only spiritual power brings spiritual results. And Jesus promises that power through the Holy Spirit. Throughout the book of Acts, the Spirit’s power advanced the mission of the church.

The Holy Spirit empowers mission. Five times between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, He clearly articulated His commission. We are sent, into all the world, to make disciples, with a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins, empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish spiritual work. This is His commission. These are His marching orders. May we be faithful as we accomplish them in our generation.

3 Comments

Leave a Comment

* Mandatory Field

Name:*

E-mail Address:*

E-mail Address:*

Message:*