'IN JERUSALEM"

“Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Luke 24:49

The disciples were to wait “in Jerusalem” for the promised Holy Spirit.

Why were they back “in Jerusalem”?

Jesus had told them after His resurrection to go to Galilee.  He ministered and taught them for 40 days between His Resurrection and Ascension in Galilee.  Now, they are back in Jerusalem!

Pause

Lord, show me what I need to see here; direct my thoughts to Yours and reveal the power of this Word of Yours.  Amen. ~Betty

They were originally “in Jerusalem” for the ¹Passover – this is where all good Jews went for Passover, if possible.  The next reason for returning to Jerusalem would be to celebrate or observe ²Pentecost.  However, Pentecost was 10 days away.  

Why Jerusalem?  (See my blog May 26 Building The House of God for some foundation)

1~God chose Jerusalem to be the city of His dwelling place – The House of God – The Temple of God. 

2~King David’s heart was to give the Ark of the Covenant of God a resting place and as he talked to God about it, God gave David His ideas and approval, with some conditions.  David would do the work of making preparation and gathering all the materials and assigning all the tasks so that it would be built during the reign of his son, Solomon.

3~All the instructions for the Tabernacle in the wilderness were applied to the Temple.  (Read Exodus for facts.) There was 40 years of peace while the Temple was being built unto God.

*Injection ~ David was appointed king of Judah by God with his throne in Jerusalem; and God told him that there would be no other king of Judah but from his sons, with the final king being His Anointed One, Messiah.  [You might want to read the whole story in 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles]

  

¹PASSOVER commemorates God bringing the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery by saving those who put the blood of a lamb on the doorpost and the Death Angel passed over.  It is a feast of remembrance observed every year. 

²PENTECOST commemorates God giving the 10 Commandments to Moses 50 days after the Exodus.  It is observed 50 days after Passover. 

So why did they return so early?

Personal thought:  I think it brought Jesus back to the Holy City of God to leave from because He promised to return to the same place.

(I just learned in my preparations to go to The Holy Land, and specifically to the city of Jerusalem for 4 days and then Galilee for 6 days, that the Ascension took place on the back side of the Mount of Olives and that the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested was at the entrance to the Mount of Olives.)

Since the Jews don’t believe the story that Jesus arose from the dead, and because of this disbelief, I think Jesus stayed with His disciples in Galilee which was His home of ministry life; and so that His disciples would be safe.  For the same reason of safety and avoiding crowds, I think He went to the far end of the Mount of Olives to ascend into Heaven.

So, why 10 days before Pentecost?

Again, I think, because it gave the disciples time to assimilate all that had happened and all Jesus told them; as well as a time to prepare mentally and spiritually for Pentecost and the mysterious coming of the Holy Spirit.  There were 120 of them gathered in the upper room praying, sharing and discussing what to do while they waited.  (See Acts chapter 2.)  They didn’t show any signs of surprise or fear when The Spirit came in as a rushing wind and tongues of fire; they were excited and changed!  [I have another sermon about what happens today when one receives the Holy Spirit.  Selah.]

Why Jerusalem?

There were many dedicated (believing) Jews who lived in Jerusalem but were from every known nation at that time.  They heard their languages coming from these excited people and they wanted to know how unlearned men from Galilee could be speaking to them in all their languages.  Peter answered in The Spirit explaining God’s Word and what they had witnessed and afterwards they asked him what did they need to do?  They confessed belief and were baptized and united with the disciples.  There were 3,000 and more were added daily!

This is how the good news of Jesus began to spread to all the world.  These new Believers who were changed now were excited to return to their people and tell what they had witnessed and experienced.

Why Jerusalem?

It is God’s Chosen City.  It is the Birth place of The Church!