So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

Acts 1:6

I am amazed at Jesus’ patience.  He explained many things about the kingdom he came to establish, especially as his death drew near.  It was all opaque to his disciples who had formed, in their minds, a vision of the Kingdom of God as the restoration of Israel.  That preconception kept them from hearing Jesus as he tried to explain his plan.

So, here it is, after forty days in which Jesus tried his best to explain his Kingdom, he heard his disciples, again, ask a question that showed clearly that they had no idea what he was talking about.  Listen, again, to their final question before Jesus’ ascension, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”  It was as though they had not heard Jesus at all.  Their question had to do with “our kingdom.”   What interested his disciples was the future of Israel.  They believed that Jesus would somehow liberate Israel from the Roman Empire, thus fulfilling a dream that dominated the Jews at the time of Christ.  The “free” Israel would then “restore” “our” kingdom of Israel.  That seemed to be the heart of their belief.  They hoped, no doubt, that Jesus would do just that.

Jesus ceased trying to explain the nature of the Kingdom.  He simply announced to them that shortly you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (Israel was not even mentioned.) Having said that he ascended to glory.

What happened after this is astounding.  In a few days, after being filled by the Holy Spirit, Peter, as their spokesperson explained the mystery of the Kingdom of God, now among them.  Hallelujah!