Read: Acts 1:1-11
You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (v. 8)
As we begin the book of Acts, we find ourselves once again with the apostles as Jesus makes his final goodbyes. It reads like a replay but with a slightly different focus. This time, there is more emphasis on the story that will unfold.
I wonder if the apostles were thinking, What in the world is Jesus talking about? He was detailing for his followers, in his final moments on earth, his grand vision for their lives going forward. The details, however, seemed a bit lackluster. I imagine the apostles must have felt a bit like they were put on a road trip with no map and only a vague sense of how to even drive a car! Those of us who have been given less-than-concrete instructions regarding a very important expectation can empathize with these joy-filled followers of Jesus.
And then, just like that, Jesus was gone again—ascended into heaven before their eyes. But this time, the apostles looked on with awe and hope rather than despair at the departing of their beloved rabbi. What did they understand at this point? It’s hard to say exactly but safe to guess they knew very little of what would unfold. And yet they, and we, know one thing for sure: the news of this resurrection needs to be shared with the whole world, and sharing it is the disciples’ job. —Amy Curran
As you pray, reflect on God’s desire for the whole world to be transformed by the resurrection.
About the Author
Amy Curran is a gardener, a reader, a runner, and an avid coffee drinker. She lives in Durham, North Carolina, where she runs a community garden and a farm-to-table café for Reality Ministries.
