Acts 1:6-8: When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In Acts 1:6-8, we find the last earthly interaction Jesus has with His disciples. They ask Him a question about prophecy, wondering if He will restore the kingdom to Israel at that time. It’s clear that the disciples are curious about the future, looking for answers about politics, power and what will happen next. However, Jesus redirects their focus. He tells them it’s not for them to know the times or seasons the Father has set in his power.
Essentially, Jesus is saying that the future is not within their control.
Instead of dwelling on the future, Jesus gives them something they can control: their mission today. He gives them power over the plan right now!
He instructs them to be His witnesses, sharing the gospel starting from Jerusalem, then moving out to Judea, Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth. This strategy emphasizes spreading the message of salvation progressively from local to global.
For us today, this message is just as relevant. We often get caught up in worrying about the future, politics, and who has the power.
While it’s natural to have concerns about these things, Jesus makes it clear that God has the power over the future. Not us. Our primary focus should be on our mission to share the gospel and this is where our power is found!
Our obligation is to fulfill this challenge, starting in our own communities and extending outward. Just like the disciples were to begin in Jerusalem, we should begin in our own nation, state, and city, and then reach out to the world. By focusing on what we can control—our efforts to share the gospel—we fulfill the purpose Jesus set before us.
Jesus’ last words remind us that while we can’t control the future, we can control our actions today. Our mission is to share the gospel with those around us, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ to every corner of the earth.
