Matthew 16:20 English Standard Version (ESV) Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
Yesterday we spoke about witnessing Christ. Later in the same chapter Jesus strictly forbids His disciples from telling anyone that He is the Christ. The next section of this chapter is about the events leading up to His crucifixion. Most of us can see that the command to keep silent was a temporary order that would be rescinded later. Nothing was to interfere with the forward momentum of His sacrifice.
After His ascension, why weren’t they spreading the gospel immediately? There were forty days between Passover and His ascension and another ten days after that before Pentecost. Why so long between the proof of His resurrection and their witnessing to the religious community?
Acts 1:7-8 English Standard Version
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But 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 did not rescind His order to remain silent until just before His ascension. It was another 10 days before the Holy Spirit moved on them with power at Pentecost. There will always be this issue of insecurity within us as to when God will enact His will. God’s timing is perfect and we should look for His movement while not acting in our own strength.
Habakkuk 2:3 English Standard Version (ESV) For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Just because we can see it coming does not give us the authority to make it happen.