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1 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. 3 After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. 4 As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. 5 John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon." 6 When they were together for the last time they asked, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?" 7 He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. 8 What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." 9 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. 10 They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared - in white robes! 11 They said, "You Galileans! - why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly - and mysteriously - as he left." (Acts 1:1-11 The Message)
Happy Thursday, dear Friend! This coming Friday, May 21st is the day recognized by the Church as the day Jesus ascended into Heaven. Today's text is one of the texts that speaks of that event. As we pray for today and tomorrow, I ask for prayers for Mrs. Laurel Bradford, wife of The Rev. Scott Bradford, both dear friends of Nellie and myself. Laurel is facing eye surgery this Thursday and we pray that all goes well with that. Prayers for those whom you know and love that need them; pray for one another, and pray for yourself in a positive way!
Luke wrote both the gospel that bears his name as well as this second volume of Acts. At one time, the two volumes were bound together as one account of the ministry of Jesus as well as the response to that ministry that started after He rose into Heaven. This passage is that account. As has been discussed, Theophilus could have been the name of an important Roman official, or it could literally mean "Friend of God." We won't argue that here, other than to say, please feel free to read it as a true friend of God!
The day of the Ascension was a sad day for the apostles. It was their day to say goodbye to the man who forever changed their lives. Jesus took them from their ordinary day-to-day affairs into positions of power and responsibility. None, save John, would escape a terrible death because of their position as the original and true disciples of Jesus Christ. Legend holds that the eleven suffered mightily for their faith and died as a result; John was exiled to Patmos where he wrote the vision he received from Jesus called The Revelation. This day is the fortieth day of His earthly presence after His resurrection. Every chance Jesus had to meet with His disciples, as this account says, He spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. Of all He shared, key was His insistence that they not leave Jerusalem in order to "wait for what the Father promised: the promise you hear from me (Jesus)," which was the coming of the Holy Spirit and His fire. At their last meeting together, they could not hide their curiosity about when all these things would be and so they ask, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?" Notice their concern still is on the earthly claims that Israel once had; will Israel be a powerful nation once again? They were not quite "getting it" in terms of all Jesus had spoken, done, and shown them. Jesus tells them point blank,"You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." What they were hoping to hear was, "Hey, fellas, guess what? You know those thrones you've been wanting to sit on and be the kings and governors you've been wanting to be? Well, that's tomorrow!" Nope. Jesus said, "You get to be my witnesses soon, with the power of the Holy Spirit behind you and you'll get to share it with the people you know in Jerusalem, and you'll get to visit the next area of Judea and share it there; and you'll get to share my story with the folks in Samaria (Yeah, I know you ain't crazy about them, and they aren't crazy for you, either; but they have to hear it from you!)". Wait, Lord. You mean we still have more work to do?
The Bible contains in it stories of people who worked hard at something and expected something, but got something, and in the case of the patriarchs, someone else. Who can forget the story of Jacob who fell madly in love with Rachel and wanted desperately to marry her only to have his future father-in-law say, "Sure, son! You can have her after you work for me for seven years!" Gulp. And, who can forget that after seven years of labor (Which seemed only like a few days because he was so in love. Sigh.) he had the wedding feast and went to the honeymoon tent and found out the next morning that his new wife was not Rachel, but her older sister, Leah! What? "Uh, Dad, this is not the woman I wanted!" "I know, son, but we do things a little differently here in these parts; the oldest has to marry first, not the youngest! Tell you what, you want Rachel, you can have her if you work for me for another seven years; but you can have her right now; just keep working!" You get the picture. Good rewards and results sometimes require work on our part, and this was also true for the faith of these disciples.
The reality was that once Jesus had said these things, He was lifted up and taken to Heaven, disappearing into a cloud. They stood there, staring, at the empty sky, and might have stayed there a good, long time if not for the two angels who asked, "Why are you just standing around looking into Heaven? You've got work to do! Get busy!"
The Ascension of the Lord was a reminder that Jesus is from Heaven but left His Holy Spirit among us to bless us, guide us, and use us to share His story with a hungry world. We have work to do, but sometimes, we think we'd rather just stare up into a glorious sky, when those around us remain in their need, still with wants in their lives, families, bellies, minds, hearts, and spirits. They need someone who has heard and who knows the story of the Lord to share it with them. We should not be afraid, because Jesus promised us help and sent us the Holy Spirit. We should not worry about the words, because Jesus promised us the words and sent us the Holy Spirit. We should not fear the opportunity presenting itself, because Jesus promised us the settings and sent us the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER: Loving God, as we see the needs of Your people here on the earth, we are reminded that we need to share with them our stories, our accounts of how we have been blessed and so we ask for power from on high to fulfill that which was entrusted to us. This we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ today!
Receive my blessings of peace and joy,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
