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 (KJV)
After forty days of seeing the risen Jesus and hearing Him speak about the kingdom of God, the apostles ask whether He will now restore the kingdom to Israel. Their question concerns something they hope to see. They want to know if the time has come.
What Jesus Withholds
Jesus reserves the times and seasons to the Father's authority. He does not give them a date to calculate or enough clues to work one out. They must accept that there is knowledge He has not entrusted to them.
This answer addresses their question about the kingdom. It does not condemn making plans, asking honest questions, or caring about what happens in the world. We need appointments and preparations. We also need humility about what God has not revealed.
What He Promises
“But ye shall receive power,” Jesus continues, “after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8). He tells them what this power is for: they will be witnesses unto Him.
Earlier He commanded them to wait for the Father's promise and spoke of baptism with the Holy Ghost. His answer is therefore more than advice to become confident. They will receive the Spirit and bear witness to the Lord they have seen alive. Their knowledge of future events will remain limited as they do so.
It is possible to spend an afternoon pursuing predictions and finish with less readiness to speak about Jesus than when you began. Meanwhile, someone has asked about your faith, and you have yet to answer.
A Conversation You Can Prepare For
You may recognize that delay in yourself. Which unsettled question has been taking attention you could give to a person who wants to understand the gospel?
Make time for that person. Read the Scriptures you would share, and ask God to help you speak with care. You can acknowledge what you do not know without becoming silent about what Jesus has made known.
He has told His church enough to bear witness faithfully while the times remain in the Father's hands.
