Waiting: In His Time May 3, 2020
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.
Song: In His Time
We all love to wait, especially when we aren’t in the know. Right?
After Jesus’ death and resurrection His followers entered a time of waiting. Jesus would suddenly, randomly appear to them but everything was different. There must have been a keen sense of anticipation that Jesus would be establishing His place as the risen Messiah.
But none of that was happening.
Were they fearful of the unknown? The Pharisees, seeing the empty burial plot and hearing rumors of people seeing a living, walking, breathing Jesus must have been baffled yet furious. Perhaps they were going to have Pilate’s soldiers target them for messing with a body and spreading rumors of a risen king.
The disciples must have felt in limbo. For over three years they were people of action. People conditioned by traipsing throughout Israel at Jesus’ leading. Now He’d ascended into the heavens. And He told them to wait. Yet, He told them to take the Good News to the whole world.
How long would they have to wait? And then, exactly, what? Without Jesus’ physical presence, guidance & instruction.
What was Jesus up to?
Do you know anyone who enjoys waiting?
Yes. There are some who actually do… occasionally, when they know the waiting will be over within a short time.
People who welcome that brief respite from the demands of work or duties.
As long as the wait isn’t too long. And the outcome is known.
We’re in a time of waiting. This is the 7th Sunday of mandated social distancing. For many this period of uncertain waiting has gone on too long. It’s like being a child again in the back seat of the car on a long road trip. “How much longer, daddy?” is the repeated, plaintive cry.
We’re not good at waiting. With each passing decade we humans become less able to wait patiently. We like to be in the know. We want things done NOW, my agenda, my schedule.
Why wait to save up money to buy a car when I can put it on credit? Why wait until older to go on that mission trip to an exotic place? How thrilling to be doing God’s work!
Instead God was whispering, “Not quite yet, you need to become more mature in Me. Wait.”
Waiting for what?
God knew Jesus followers were very close to being ready. But not quite yet, they needed to learn the lesson of waiting. Wait, for what? For instructions, for the Holy Spirit, and to learn to yield to God’s timing.
Perhaps Jesus’ followers encouraged each other with Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; Be Strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord.”
And Isaiah 40:28 – 31
Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard?
The everlasting Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth does not grow tired or weary?
His understanding cannot be fathomed. He invigorates the exhausted,
He gives strength to the powerless.
Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord God will renew their strength,
they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings;
when they are running they won’t grow weary,
when they are walking they won’t get tired.
While we’re in this time of uncertain waiting it’s helpful to look at the example of Jesus’ followers as they waited for God’s timing, for the Holy Spirit to come to them. What did they do during that time of limbo?
Luke 24:52-53 and Acts 1:13 – 14 They worshipped Jesus and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. They stayed together in prayer and supplication.
Their waiting was focused. While they waited they prayed and with great joy were praising God.
The time of waiting wasn’t spent in aimless idleness, It was a time of uncertainty as to when and what would happen but their confidence and expectation was on the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
They waited with certain joyful expectation on God’s timing!
Scotts Mills Friends Church 