The ascension of our Lord

May 13, 2021 (Thursday)

 

If you are following the church calendar, today is for remembering the “Ascension.” That is when Jesus was taken into heaven after the resurrection.

 

Luke, a Gentile, who wrote half the New Testament begins the book of Acts with, “In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach.” [Acts 1:1 ESV] Luke is writing to someone who is known as “God lover.” That may have been a specific person or a general description for his audience.

 

His first book described what Jesus BEGAN to do and teach. Reading the book of Acts, I get the feeling it is incomplete. I think that is the point. Luke is trying to tell us that we are a continuation what Jesus began. The story continues, “until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” [Acts 1:2 ESV] This “taken up” is what theologians call the “ascension.”

 

The church is going to depend on the Holy Spirit, that’s another point behind the book of Acts. Luke demonstrates that Jesus was dependent on the Holy Spirit, modeling this truth for His followers. But there is a gap between when Jesus is taken up into heaven and when the Holy Spirit arrives.

 

“While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised.” [Acts 1:4a CEB] Seems simple enough: don’t leave Jerusalem. There is a side story it that the disciples might have feared for their lives. Staying put, where they were being hunted, was an act of faith.

 

Notice, Jesus states that the Holy Spirit is PROMISED by the Father. In this verse, we have Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I will be covering this in a few weeks, so see you in church then!

 

Clearing up a bit of confusion, Jesus instructs, “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.” [Acts 1:8 ESV] The Holy Spirit would give them power for being Jesus’ witnesses.

 

Much has been made about the intention of this verse. For instance, there seems to be expanding circles of influence and ministry. Jerusalem, where the movement would start. Judea, the area around Jerusalem. Samaria, people who were close by but had a different culture and worship system. Finally, the ends of the earth.

 

We can also plausibly understand this as people we live with, people we live near, people who are similar yet different, and people who are completely unlike us (culture and language). I think Jesus’ point was that the ENTIRE world was to be told.

 

Then the “ascension” happens: “After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.” [Acts 1:9 NLT] However, like any good theological truth this points us forward. “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.” [Acts 1:11b CEB]

 

We are given the Holy Spirit, commissioned and empowered to witness for Jesus wherever we are, and are to expect Jesus’ return. How are you doing with that?