Are We on High Alert for Pentecost? Acts 1:6-8, 2:1-5

Over this six-part series, we have been following this loose band of believers from the early hours after the resurrection of Jesus. So far, we have observed them as being gripped by fear, uncertainty and doubt; they are still coping with the death of Christ and don’t quite know what to make of reports of his resurrection. Some believed, others did not believe as quickly. Some locked themselves behind closed doors, in fear of the Jews (John 20:19-31). Others coped by going fishing (John 21:3). It was the women, generally, who gave leadership during this post-resurrection climate; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James who, according to Luke, arrived at the tomb and found it empty and went and told the others.

They are in fear, they are fragmented and they are wondering, “Where do we go from here?” and “What are we going to do now”? two questions as relevant now as they were then.

The post-resurrection pericope continues into the book of Acts. This “not yet” church or gathering of apostles, has been instructed by Christ to remain in Jerusalem. Just before the “shock and awe” experience of observing Jesus being ascended into heaven, we get an idea of the mindset of this group.

Acts 1:6: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel”? Jesus immediately rebukes them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority…” (Acts 1:7).

The purpose of Christ’s rebuke was to shift the alert status and the attention of the disciples, and to change their paradigm from restoration to revelation, from restitution to institution, from reclamation to proclamation.

The disciples were not on high alert for Pentecost. And recall, Pentecost is the high point of post-resurrection activity.

They were on high alert, but for the wrong thing, believing themselves to be on the brink of witnessing the restoration of Israel as a kingdom. To the Jewish mind of the first century, restoration was a high expectation, and it was based on Jewish prophecy.

The first century was chock full of tremendous change, momentous challenge and stupendous complexity – from the death of Augustus, Rome’s first emperor, to the Council of Jerusalem, the first official body of church officials to meet and organize Christian doctrine to the great fire of Rome, which initiated the first round of Christian persecution.

The disciples had gotten caught up in the times and the times had gotten caught up in the disciples.

In 2002, in the aftermath of the 2001 attacks, America, under the George W. Bush administration, premiered a color-coded national alert system to provide a comprehensive and effective means to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist acts. Orange was the highest alert and signaled to Americans they should be on especially high alert regarding terrorist activity. Americans were expected to essentially act as law enforcement and keep their eyes trained on the slightest hint of terrorist cells.

In Jerusalem, with the disciples’ misplaced focus, Jesus changes the alert system. He points his disciples to something of greater need for which their entire attention would need to be placed. Christ redirects them from perspiration to inspiration with the conjunction “but”, a common conjunctive adverb to illustrate contrast. “But” raises the stakes, redirects attention, and changes the paradigm.

The disciples will receive power – not for the restoration of Israel – but rather for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as the inauguration of the church!

And this redemptive hermeneutical principle would drastically change the narrative!

 From the early hours of the post-resurrection tomb in the gospel to Acts 2, the disciples will have gone from being cowardly huddled behind closed doors to change-agents of faith, from uncertainty about who they were in Christ to being unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, from fishing for fish to fishing for men, and from confusion to clarity!

Though they have experienced fear, doubt, uncertainty – the disciples as the “not yet” church – are gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem in anticipation of and high alert for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

They are in the right place at the right time to receive “power” (Greek ‘dunamis’) or authority and strength to change the Graeco-Roman world.

The lessons for us, the modern church, are plenteous. Are we on high alert for the work of the Holy Spirit?

First, we cannot do anything of significance without God’s power. God, though, reserves the right to change our “alert” system. Indeed, God will change our paradigm from what matters to what really matters.

Second, with God’s power, we can work miracles and do mighty works in His name.

Third, with God’s power, we can overcome the powers of darkness, of those who mitigate against peace and justice. We shall overcome with God’s power.

All we need is to activate and actuate our attention and faith and keep our “eyes fixed on Him” (Luke 4:20). God desires to give us, his people, power, but we must be on high alert to receive it. Then, like this loose band of believers who ultimately became the universal church, we, too, can move from fear to faith, from fragmentation to fellowship, from timidity to trust.

Pastor C can be reached at info@pastorwericcroomes.com