“And 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

Moments after Jesus’ crucifixion, we learn how the disciples scattered and eventually locked themselves up for fear of getting mauled in the streets or facing the same fate as their “dead” master. The once bubbly bunch now had no head and seemed primed for extinction. The contributing factor to this demeanor was the fact they were yet to fully understand the assignment Christ had fulfilled.

Brothers and sisters, we learn that Jesus reveals himself to them a number of times before His ascension. Assuring them of the glorious hope in His resurrection and also giving them a purpose, a direction, an assignment to which they were to fulfill.

In our verse for today, He informs the disciples to wait on the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. He assures them that when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they shall receive power to be witnesses unto Him.

During this time, the disciples needed boldness, and that is exactly what the Holy Spirt gave them. It is my prayer that as we open our hearts to God, the Holy Spirit will not only empower us with boldness, He will also empower us with spiritual gifts to go out and make disciples for Christ. The reference to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth signifies the universal nature of the message of Christ. It reminds us that our mission is not limited by boundaries or borders; rather, it encompasses all people, regardless of their background or location. We are called to be ambassadors of Christ, carrying His light to every place we go.

In our daily lives, let us be mindful of the power of the Holy Spirit available for us and the responsibility we have to be witnesses of God’s grace. May we embrace this calling with courage and conviction, knowing that we are part of a global mission to share the love of Christ with the world. Amen.