It is not for you to know times and seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. – Acts 1:7
During the three-year ministry of Jesus Christ, His disciples struggled to comprehend all that He was teaching them. Their whole form of worship changed after Christ’s death and resurrection.
Their concept of God must have changed, as well. The pious Jew would not even say the name of Yahweh (the scribes would bathe after writing the name), and now Jesus taught His followers to pray to the Father who would be intimately aware and responsive to their requests.
Thus, when the disciples asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6), it was not an unusual issue about which to wonder. The Old Testament prophets foretold that the Messiah would come to reign over Israel (Obadiah 21), and this seemed like it could be the time. However, it was not. Christ’s answer was gentle, and He did not call the question foolish. He redirected their thoughts to His Father in heaven who is in control of all time – past, present, and future. As Creator God, He has the authority to shape the flow of history according to His will.
When the disciples asked Jesus the question, He told them that another subject was of greater priority. The power of the Holy Spirit was to come upon them, and they would be called to be witnesses and proclaimers of the “gospel of the kingdom” of Christ (Matthew 24:14).
It was not for them to know the times or seasons, but they were commissioned, as are you, to proclaim the good news of salvation through Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
You have the power of the Holy Spirit! Praise the Lord for that assurance.
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