PART 1
by Tom Marshall, Academic Dean, Maritime Christian College
Jesus’ Mission Must Come First
Let’s begin with context toward the end of Jesus’ ministry. “Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings” (Matthew 24:1, NIV). They expected Jesus to comment on how the temple would remain forever. They had good reason to believe so because the Temple took 46 years to build (John 2:20, 20 BC-27 AD ca.). King Herod’s rebuilding of the temple doubled its footprint and was a masterpiece within its day. The Jewish people had a tangible building they could point to as a sign God was with them.
Jesus deflated their enthusiasm with his response, “Do you see all these things? [pointing to the temple] . . . I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down” (Matt 24:2, NIV). It was not the answer they expected. Jesus implied a coming catastrophe with his answer. But when would this happen? They did not realize Jesus’ focus was upon other matters. Jesus teaches, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come . . . It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns” (Matthew 24:42, 46 NIV). Jesus assumes disasters will come. The difference is, though, the disciple who is at their post has nothing to fear. They have a job to do, and they should not rely on impressive buildings built in God’s name.
Jump ahead in time after Jesus’ death and resurrection to the ascension on the Mount of Olives. This is the same location when Jesus explained to them to “keep watch” in Matthew 24. The Apostles ask Jesus, “Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6, NIV). This question sounds eerily similar to the one they asked in Matthew 24:3, “‘Tell us, they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’” (NIV). It is clear the Apostles do not comprehend Jesus’ original mission.
Let’s jump back to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Capernaum, following Jesus’ great success in healing the sick and driving out demons in Mark 1:32-38. The disciples seek out Jesus the next morning to encourage him to return to Capernaum and continue the ministry. But Jesus redirects their attention back to his purpose, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come” (Mark 1:38, NIV). Jesus was about mission. It’s not about buildings or success but about reaching as many people as possible with the Good News.
This is why he corrects the Apostles in Acts 1:7, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (NIV). They are still thinking in terms of dates, times, and earthly matters of a tangible kingdom.
Instead, Jesus commissions the Apostles to be his witnesses in Acts 1:8,
“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” (Acts 1:8, NIV).1 The Apostles were to be Jesus’ witnesses. Matters concerning times, dates, buildings, and success are not important. They are to be witnesses wherever they find themselves.
Believers Pray Together for God’s Discernment
The Apostles returned to Jerusalem with this new insight on mission and joined the other believers in the upper room to pray about it. Luke records in Acts 1:14-17, “14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, ‘Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry’” (NIV).
Based upon Jesus’ commission to be witnesses, there were questions the believers had. They met together to seek answers from God. When would they receive the power of the Holy Spirit? What does a witness look like? How would they be a witness? Where would they be a witness? And what do they do about the empty spot left by Judas Iscariot? They met together for prayer asking God to reveal this to them.
John Franklin in his book And the Place Was Shaken identifies how the Apostles led others in prayer together before God within Acts.2 It was not just a matter of coming together but a concerted effort by the Apostles to lead others in prayer to seek answers (Acts 1:14), discernment (1:24), fellowship (2:42), spiritual formation (3:1), and appropriate responses when persecuted (4:23-31). Prayer together was integral to the health of the Church.
Too often we approach God for personal reasons because something has gone wrong in our life, or we want something and so we pray. But when was the last time you took time to pray about God’s wishes? God’s desires? And when was the last time you came together with other believers to bring God’s wishes and his plans in prayer?
Jesus informed the Apostles they were his witnesses (see also Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; and Luke 24:44-49). But how was God going to accomplish this? What does witnessing look like? The Apostles informed the hundred and twenty about Jesus’ words and they prayed about how they were going to achieve Jesus’ expectations.
Peter raises the second problem they face. The Apostles are down one member because Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and then committed suicide. How are they going to replace Judas? What requirements are there for replacing a missing Apostle? Again, they came together in prayer. By now it should be obvious the early church sought God in prayer when a question or problem arose within the church.
Two men were selected, and they prayed for discernment, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs” (Acts 1:24-25, NIV). They cast lots and selected Matthias.
Prayer was nothing new. Jesus emphasized the importance of prayer throughout his ministry. Jesus reminded them to pray (Matt 26:42, Mk 13:33; 14:38; Luke 22:46). Likewise in Matthew, he taught them to pray for their enemies (Matt 5:44), not to be hypocritical in prayer but pray to the Father in secret (Matt 6:5-6), not to be repetitious (Matt 6:7), Jesus instructs them how to pray (Matt 6:9ff.), pray after success and ministry (Matt 14:23), pray for children (Matt 19:13), pray in times of crisis (Matt 24:20), pray near someone who is also praying (Matt 26:36), persistence in prayer (Matt 26:39, 42, 44).
What did the Apostles do when Jesus tells them to be witnesses? They went to pray. Prayer was foundational to their body. And after the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them and Peter stood up and preached to the crowds, three thousand responded to the message and were baptized (Acts 2).
Luke emphasizes this point in a summary description of the Church in Jerusalem following the Day of Pentecost. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42, NIV). Prayer undergirded what they did.
Later when confronted with an additional problem within the Jerusalem church the Apostles clarified their role in the church as, “[we] will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4, NIV). They had learned from Jesus to pray in every situation because prayer invites God into the equation. They must discern God’s will in every situation. Prayer was the vehicle by which they did this. But they did not do it alone. Notice how the Apostles brought it before the whole body of believers. They were not alone in this but part of a group. Franklin points out this fact, “However, in Acts and in the rest of the New Testament, the majority of God's recorded workings came when his people prayed together” (Franklin, 2005, 3. The Pattern of Scripture Before and After the Resurrection section).
Identifying and following Jesus’ mission through prayer is foundational to the health and growth of the Church. There should be an organized effort to bring the issues, challenges, and questions before God as a corporate body. Yes, people may pray individually, but it’s also important to pray as a body of believers. When persecution begins later within the Church (Acts 4), the body of believers responded in prayer and brought it before God—they stood together.
I encourage you to go through the book of Acts and find references to prayer. By studying God’s Word, we can discern how God works within His Church.
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1 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
2 Franklin, J. (2005). And the Place Was Shaken ([edition unavailable]). B&H Books. https://www.perlego.com/book/2694340
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Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash
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