Acts marks the close of the Gospels and the opening of the work of Jesus’ disciples. This is where the real work begins. This is where we see if what Jesus taught sticks with his followers. If this brand of religion that John the Baptist started and Jesus confirmed and grew, will be sustained.
In verse 1, we see that Luke wrote about all that Jesus “began” to do. There was much that Jesus did that was never written. Many miracles, conversations, teachings, casual conversations, and intimate moments that we shall never know about. In John chapter 21 verse 25, John says “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.“
I wish these things were written down so I could read them and know more about what Jesus did. But, if they were, would I believe more? Would I have a larger faith? I doubt it would change things that much. The reason I say this is because I believe what was written is just what God wanted us to read and know. We don’t need to know it all. That is the mind of a man who never intends to have any faith at all. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen. At some point, we just have to believe.
The late Carl Sagan told a radio audience once that before the Big Bang, there was only hydrogen suspended in space. A girl who called in asked “where did the hydrogen come from?”
Sagan’s response was, “we have to believe that it has always been there.”
Believe that it has always been there? Doesn’t this sound like faith? Even an evolutionary atheist who dismisses Christianity has to have faith to sustain his or her belief.
So why wasn’t more written about Jesus if there were more events? Perhaps look at it from the other perspective. What if it was not mentioned that there were more events? If the events were made up, I would expect the writer to not mention there were more events at all. Historically, this validates the Gospels. Lee Strobel in his book, The Case for Christ, was a journalist who knew if a group was telling the truth about an event or if they were making it up. In his book, he mentions the fact that the Gospels have the same story but that a few details are slightly different and that this actually is evidence that it is true. If eye witness’ stories are exactly the same, it makes their stories suspect.
I believe just knowing that there were more events is significant to us. Because of this, we know Jesus was real. He was actually with people, eating, and joining in fellowship. I think perhaps sometimes we focus too much on Jesus’ deity rather than his humanity and there by think of him as less human than he really was and still is now.
In verse 6, the disciples asked if Jesus was going to restore the Kingdom of Israel. We look at this and think, “how foolish of them, they did not understand God’s mission and what Jesus’ death on the cross really meant.” But, I think this opinion is wrong. At this point, it would be very natural and fitting to ask this question. The Old Testament did proclaim that the Messiah would restore all things. If the Messiah is the descendant of David, then he would restore Israel to the glory that it had when David was king. Jesus in his response did not deny that Israel would one day be restored. And in fact, it will. To this very day, the Jews wait for this restoration.
Jesus tells the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit and so the disciples do. But, it is significant to note that while they were “waiting” they were still “doing”. Peter stood up and preached to the believers that Judas must be replaced as one of the 12. And, without any divine intervention, they made their own mind to choose 2 to replace him and then prayed. After that they threw lots. Lots were a form of dice that was a way to determine God’s will. In fact, the Priests of the Old Testament used to keep a pair in their pocket. Today, we would think of this as forcing God’s hand for an answer or making presumptive conclusions without careful consideration. But, they had been with Jesus, they knew who was best. And, they trusted God he would answer through the drawing of lots. I am not advocating we throw dice to determine God’s direction in our lives. But, I do think we can combine common wisdom with prayer. God opens the door, and I believe sometimes he challenges us to use our wisdom to determine which one is best to walk through.
Are you waiting for God to give you an answer before you do the work of the Kingdom? Jesus said the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Perhaps our lack of action is the reason Jesus said this. If Christians are waiting for God to tell them exactly what to do, then nothing will get done. The harvest will sit to blister in the sun. Don’t wait to harvest the work you see around you. The book of James tells us that faith without works is dead.
“But someone will say that you have faith and I have actions. Show me this faith of yours without the actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions! 19 You believe that “God is one”?a] Good for you! The demons believe it too — the thought makes them shudder with fear!” – James 2:18-19 CJB
If you want to know if you have real faith, then match it up with real action. It is pretty simple. We make the Kingdom complicated with our detailed theology and our endless discussions with our peers. But, as Janet Jackson once sung “What have you done for me lately?”, I think God is asking the same thing of us.
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