Who likes to be told to wait? And is it not torture when the waiting goes longer than expected? Jesus said to his apostles, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)
Leviticus instructs that the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, was to begin fifty days after the day following the Sabbath of the Passover. Of course this was the Sunday Jesus rose from the dead during his last Passover. Jesus then appeared to different people on earth over the span of forty days. Before ascending, He gave his ‘waiting’ instructions and the disciples went to Jerusalem.
What do you think they did while they waited? I’ll bet they prayed. Maybe they fasted. They probably often recounted Jesus’ instructions and tried to figure out the meaning of “a few.” I imagine they got really frustrated and you would guess there were more than a few arguments. As the days stretched out, the less comfortable they became and the more they fretted. But God is not bothered too much by our discomforts. He had a plan.
Ten days after Jesus left the earth; seven weeks and one day after his resurrection from the grave, a huge crowd gathered in the city for the feast. The Holy Spirit came Sunday, the Day of Pentecost. The waiting was worth it!
So now we wait for the return of the King. We wonder what the Father wants to take place on earth before the end. We know we are set apart to live holy lives of faith and give glory to God. But will He allow his power to be seen as it was in the days of the early church? The ‘acts’ of the apostles (and others) were the ‘acts’ of the Holy Spirit; does God plan more action? Are not the lives of believers today also to be marked by the Holy Spirit?
Surely we should pray big prayers. When the gospel is proclaimed in every tongue, and the sick are healed and evil is defeated, the Kingdom is seen. Let us seek… and knock… and ask… and wait.
“Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Matthew 6:10
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9-13