Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

The mention of Jesus’ brothers catches my attention again. I sure wish I could have a talk with them. I love to hear stories of personal conversions—of the unique and varied ways the Holy Spirit of God leads people into personal effective faith—moving them from darkness to light. I would love to hear these half-brothers of Jesus describe their sojourn that led them into this fellowship of seeker-believers when they had so clearly rejected Jesus in their past. My own hunch is that Mary played a big part in their change of heart. It’s inconceivable that she would have kept forever the truth of Jesus’ origins a secret and never find opportunity to spill the facts before them. It’s possible she had done so only a short time before this gathering in the upper room. Whatever course their personal journeys took, the fact remains that they are here in this special meeting place—offering wonderful confirmation of their transformation—evidence that they were not only operating with HEARTS AFTER GOD, but also embracing the marvel that their own half-brother was in fact the Messiah—Who also deserved their devotion and worship.

Here’s a big important question: WHY, OR FOR WHAT PURPOSE, DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD LEAD PEOPLE INTO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM? The answer emerges in my reasoning as being twofold:

1. The LOVE FACTOR. He simply loves human worldlings, even though they are damaged by sin. He doesn’t want any to perish.
2. The FUNCTIONAL FACTOR. There is a service that humans in right relationship with God are intended to perform—to be ambassadors or witnesses in His behalf. That answer is stated explicitly in this chapter.

The disciples still struggle with dullness—they wanted clarity as to what seemed to still be uppermost in their minds—“When does the party start surrounding your conquering Kingdom? We can hardly wait! After all, isn’t that what the prophetic Messiah is all about?” In reply, Jesus gave no clarity as to the specifics of their question, but He gave crystal clarity as to their general purpose and responsibility. He said the equivalent of, “It’s none of your business!”—“It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his authority” (1:7). And in no uncertain terms, He now prescribes what IS their business—their God-ordained purpose and responsibility—“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (1:8).

In a day when a sound Bible-based sense of divine PURPOSE seems to be in short supply, our FUNCTIONAL business as Kingdom representatives is as urgent as it ever has been. That PURPOSE in itself is POWER.