Big picture.
What does it take to perceive the big picture? How much of that picture do we have available to us? A classic definition of the big picture implies a wider perspective or view of life so that you can see the complete and overarching ideas. It means taking into account the future and not just a focus on small details.
The disciples surmised that they had a ziploc understanding of the big picture now that Jesus was alive again. You can perceive this in their question from Acts 1:6, ”So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’”
They were ready to stand by what they thought was the big picture. That big picture was, to them, a physical king (probably Jesus) taking away the throne from any erroneous king for the sake of the physical nation of Israel. This king would use his might to punch Caesar’s lights out and restore an earthly kingdom to the nation of Israel. This seemed like the big picture to the eleven disciples. This might even seem like the big picture to a subset of disciples even today.
So let’s rephrase their question. It might sound more like this:
Are you going to fulfill our big picture? Are you going to erase Covid 19 from our national collective memory?
This is what we consider the big ticket item; how are you going to help us? How are you going to restore our lost year’s wages?
Are you going to do this now, Jesus? Are you going to give us back what we lost?
What is our big picture item? What is it that we are assuming Jesus is going to restore? Do we want our old life back (pre-Covid)? Are we intent in one particular direction for our church, our family, our profession?
Acts 1:7 states, “He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.’”
Jesus responds in a way that demonstrates they did not know the big picture. Jesus’ answer strikes the root human issue at it’s very core: the typical human big picture is too small. The disciples’ big picture idea would have been too small. They wanted Jesus to restore an earthly kingdom to tiny little Israel. That would have solved 1-2% of all their problems and all of them were earth bound and limited. According to their question and the assumed big picture, the Romans would have been toast; they would have withered away in humiliating oppression under the hand of their former slaves. If Jesus would have fulfilled their big picture or anyone’s big picture, too many other hurting souls would have been lost for eternity, including Jewish souls.
Jesus goes big! Acts 1 is great insight into that big picture.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” [Jesus said]. (Acts 1:8, ESV).
The big picture involved what they had seen and experienced. Each one of the disciples had been loved and accepted by Jesus before his death. They had each experienced a coveted role to be in the inner circle of the god-man’s closest earthly friends for three years. Then, even after each one of them turned their backs on him, Jesus still retained his admiration of them and he purposely continued to love them. His resurrection appearances confirmed that God was not angry with them any longer - the cross had removed all issues of punishment and retribution. God had wiped the slate clean forever and the risen Christ now confirmed their place in his eternal family by Amazing grace - for time unending!
Now these witnesses had the role of passing on what they had seen and experienced. This made them a part of the big picture.
What about you? Do you hear the witness of the Scriptures ringing in your ears? Do you sense the level of acceptance that is freely given to you by fellow believers and disciples? That comes from Jesus’ big picture plan to “go and make disciples.” They were to pass on what they knew and experienced. And so are we.
Any love you have witnessed as your small group shelters you in prayer, you can now pass on as a witness. You will also shelter others in prayer now that you know what this feels like, sounds like and sense it’s worth. Whenever you admit your guilt to a brother or sister in Christ and they kindly, patiently look you in the eye and announce the gospel truth to your needy heart - you are forgiven and you now have that same ability to forgive others. This is the big picture.
Rome under the Jewish heal was too small a picture. Romans and Cythians and Asians and Ethiopians being unconditionally loved is the big picture. What part of the big picture has been cast for you? What exchange of heavenly love has fallen into your lap? As part of God’s big picture, be his witnesses . . . “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” [Jesus said]. (Acts 1:8)
May God bless you as he unravels another piece of the big picture for you! May you share that with another and another - be his witnesses.
Peace in Christ Jesus.