在耶稣复活后的四十天这段时间中，实在难以想像使徒的心境。我们只知道：耶稣降临和离开，是按照衪自己的时间和目标的。每当衪与衪的跟随者一起时，衪便教导他们更多认识神的国。
使徒捉摸到耶稣的意思，他们不可能听不懂的！
有一天，他们问耶稣，那时是不是衪终于要复兴以色列国的时候。他们所说的有点偏离了轨道，他们只是想到自己的同胞，实在不足为奇，因为他们都是怀着这个盼望长大的。
然而，神的国降临的时间，比在那一刻更长远，而神的国包括的范围也不只是局限于以色列地。在以后一段很长的日子中，神的灵会装备使徒和整个教会，把这个好消息传到地极。而整个世界，包括所有的邦国和权势、包括所有种族和人民，都会听闻君王耶稣和衪的国度。
我就是这样听到耶稣和衪的国度的，而你也同样是这样听到的。
耶稣啊，你藉着你的灵的能力，以这个好消息装备你的跟随者和你的教会，我们感谢你。惟愿你国度的好消息继续不断发声。阿们。
使徒行传 1:3-8
3他受害之后，用许多的凭据将自己活活地显给使徒看，四十天之久向他们显现，讲说神国的事。
4耶稣和他们聚集的时候，嘱咐他们说：“不要离开耶路撒冷，要等候父所应许的，就是你们听见我说过的。
5约翰是用水施洗，但不多几日，你们要受圣灵的洗。”
6他们聚集的时候，问耶稣说：“主啊，你复兴以色列国就在这时候吗？”
7耶稣对他们说：“父凭着自己的权柄所定的时候、日期，不是你们可以知道的。
8但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。”
"Before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb." - Revelation 7:9
It's hard to imagine what the 40 days after Jesus' resurrection were like for the apostles. But we know this much: Jesus came and went according to his own sense of time and purpose. And whenever he was with his followers, he taught them more about the kingdom of God.
The apostles caught his drift. It was hard to miss!
Then one day they asked if the time had finally come for him to restore the kingdom of Israel. That was a bit off-track. But it's no wonder they were thinking in terms of just their own people. That was the hope they had grown up with.
Yet the time for the kingdom would be more than just that moment. And the home of the kingdom would be more than just Israel. Over long ages, the Spirit of God would equip the apostles and the whole church to carry the good news to the ends of the earth. And all the earth, with all its kingdoms and dominions, with all its peoples and nations, would hear about King Jesus and his kingdom.
That's how I heard about Jesus and his kingdom. That's how you heard the good news too.
Jesus, thank you for equipping your followers and your church with good news through the power of your Spirit. May the news of your kingdom continue to ring. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
