Just before the Saviour departed, I want you to note His final words to His disciples. Naturally they would be of significance and very important!

1. HE EMPHASISED THEIR NEED TO DO NOTHING UNTIL THEY WERE BAPTISED BY THE HOLY GHOST.

“And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. . . 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,” Acts 1:4-5, 8.

2. HE EMPHASISED THAT GOING OUT WITH THE GOSPEL WAS MORE IMPORTANT AT THAT TIME THAN UNDERSTANDING WHEN THE LORD WOULD ‘RESTORE AGAIN THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL.’

The promises of God to Israel are repeatedly  stressed by the prophets. In those promises He has declared that He would bring Israel to a position of honour and glory over all the nations. Zechariah 14:16-21. Naturally, a Jew would wish to know just when this will happen!

The Saviour’s response indicates that this was not a knowledge He would share with them at that time!

“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,” Acts 1:7. No, it was a time when their first duty was evangelising.

3. WITH THESE WORDS THE SAVIOUR LEFT THEM BUT HE DID SEND A FINAL WORD TO THEM.

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven,” Acts 1:9-11.

* He thus assures them that He IS COMING BACK!