(Act) 1:6-8, 11 CJB “When they were together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?” He answered, “You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority. But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses both in Yerushalayim and in all Y’hudah and Shomron, indeed to the ends of the earth!” The men said, “You Galileans! Why are you standing, staring into space? This Yeshua, who has been taken away from you into heaven, will come back to you in just the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
The Great Commission is not a special assignment for missionaries, pastors, or evangelists. It is the mission Jesus gave His disciples—and therefore the mission we continue until He returns.
After seeing the risen Jesus, the disciples asked:
“Lord, are you at this time going to restore self-rule to Isra’el?” —Acts 1:6 CJB
Jesus had been crucified. He had risen from the dead. The disciples now knew beyond doubt that He was the Messiah. Yet their minds immediately went to Israel’s restoration.
Is this finally the time?
Jesus essentially told them they were focused on the wrong thing.
“You don’t need to know the dates or the times; the Father has kept these under his own authority. But you will receive power when the Ruach HaKodesh comes upon you; you will be my witnesses…” —Acts 1:7–8 CJB
God’s plan was much bigger than they understood.
The Great Commission Is Bigger Than Our Plans
Jesus did not tell them to figure out the prophetic calendar. He gave them a mission.
Be My witnesses.
Jerusalem. Judea. Samaria. The ends of the earth.
Through Jesus, God was establishing the New Covenant and sending the good news of reconciliation beyond Israel to people from every nation.
“For God so loved the world” (John 3:16).
God’s saving purpose extends to people everywhere. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked but calls people to turn and live (Ezekiel 33:11). He is patient, “not wanting anyone to be destroyed, but wanting everyone to turn from his sins” (2 Peter 3:9 CJB).
And He has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us.
Paul writes:
“God was in the Messiah reconciling mankind to himself… and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” —2 Corinthians 5:19 CJB
That is our assignment.
Spirit-Filled Men Become Witnesses
Notice the connection Jesus makes in Acts 1:8:
Holy Spirit → power → witness.
The Holy Spirit was not given merely so Christians could have deeper spiritual experiences. He empowers God’s people to live for Christ and testify about Christ.
Jesus saves men—and then sends saved men to tell other men how they can be saved.
We cannot regenerate anyone. We cannot argue someone into the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8).
But we can speak.
And we must.
“Trust comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through a word proclaimed about the Messiah” (Romans 10:17 CJB).
The Great Commission means we carry that message into our homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, friendships, and wherever God sends us.
Don’t Just Stand There
Jesus ascends, and the disciples stand staring into heaven.
Then two angels essentially ask:
Why are you still standing here looking up?
Jesus is coming back.
Until then, there is work to do.
Christian men can spend enormous amounts of energy debating when Jesus will return while giving remarkably little attention to what Jesus told us to do until He returns.
We don’t need to know when He’s coming. We need to be found faithful when He comes.
Run Today’s Play
Identify one man today who needs to know Jesus better.
Pray for him.
Then do something.
Call him. Text him. Invite him to coffee. Share what Christ has done in your life. Open Scripture with him. Invite him to church. Begin discipling him.
Don’t merely stare toward heaven waiting for Jesus to return.
You’ve received your assignment.
Be His witness.
Make disciples.
And keep running the play until the Coach calls you home—or the King returns.
