Questions!

 Acts 1:1-11v 6 “So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our Kingdom?”

During the forty days he suffered and died, He appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that He was actually alive.  And He talked to them about the Kingdom of God. He told them “John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy spirit.” So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our Kingdom?” He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times.” And you will be my witnesses. After saying this He was taken up into a cloud. Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return.

Often when someone close to us dies, we wish we could have one more conversation with them. What would you ask of a loved one who has passed away? I remember my mom saying she never asked her dad who had polio as a child and walked with crutches or a cane all his life if his leg ever hurt!  Imagine how the disciples felt having witnessed Jesus dying on the cross then seeing Him really alive again. Talking, eating, hands with scars. They asked Him when will you free Israel and restore our Kingdom? A question that over 2,000 years later has still not been answered. Truthfully, Jesus said, it is not for us to know. He reminded them about another promise of the Holy Spirit coming and that would be soon, something we celebrate next week called Pentecost. Faith involves unanswered questions as well as a deep truth that Jesus is alive and fulfills his promises.

Prayer: Holy God who sent us Jesus to help us understand you better and the Holy Spirit to guide us help us to be comfortable not knowing all the answers and to live in faith. Amen.