Acts 1.1-11
Here in these first verses of Luke we see Jesus ascending to rule from heaven. As he goes, he sends his disciples to witness in the world, promises to send them his Spirit, and we are assured that he will return again.
At the start of our passage, Luke recaps what has come before in the gospel of Luke. We remember Jesus’ miracles, his teaching, his perfect life. Luke reminds us of Jesus’ suffering in our place, bearing our sin and freeing us. We remember that Jesus was raised to life and showed himself to his disciples. Luke particularly emphasises the confidence they had that Jesus was really alive: as he gave ‘many convincing proofs’ that he was really alive.
Luke records for us one of many instructions Jesus gave in these 40 days after the resurrection. ‘Stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit.’
Luke also records a question that seems rather out of place to us: “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel”? Will Israel be free of Roman rule to live in the promised land?
Jesus’ answer is, basically, no. This is not the time. This is not the time for the evil powers of the world to be broken and humbled. This is not the time for God’s people to be vindicated in the sight of the world. That day will come.
And Jesus’ focus is wider than Israel – Jesus’ work is not just the restoration of Israel, but the welcoming in of people from every people and language into the people of God as they believe the message of the apostles.
So Jesus says, wait for the Spirit, then go and tell the world about me. Be my witnesses. Testify to what you have seen and heard.
And then, before their eyes, Jesus is lifted up into the sky until he is out of sight. As Peter will say in chapter 2, he is ‘exalted to the right hand of the Father.’ He is taken into heaven to rule as king. But suddenly, the disciples’ gawking at the clouds is interrupted by two men. They tell them that Jesus will return in the same way that he has left. The ascension is temporary – one day, he will come on the clouds of heaven to judge the world, establish his kingdom and save his people.
So what good news that even the resurrection is not the end of the story. Having dealt with sin and overcome death, Jesus ascends to heaven. There he will be the head of a global church that is filled with the Spirit to witness to him. From there he will return in power and glory to put all things right.
May we hold on to this certain hope, resisting the lie that human effort will fix the world or that this life of pain and suffering is all that there is. We all know the struggle of waiting for a painful situation to be over, especially when the timing of that end is uncertain. But how much easier to endure when we know that this is not forever.
Jesus ascends to heaven and gives the Spirit, that means he is not restricted to one place on earth, as he was during his ministry. Now he is the head of a global church, made of people from every nation and language who have believed the message of his witnesses. How easy it is for us to look down at our feet and just focus on the next step rather than look around to see the landscape of all that God is doing in the world.
As we read on in Acts, we find that Jesus is intimately involved in the life of his church. So that when he confronts Paul on the road to Damascus he can say ‘why are you persecuting me’. In ascending to heaven, Jesus is not retreating from us or our pain. By the Holy Spirit Jesus is so close to his church that as we are persecuted, so is he.
Now that Jesus is ascended to rule in heaven, the apostles are messengers from the King. The people of the world are not free to worship their own gods and live their own way. There is a king who is the rightful ruler over every person, and he is calling us all to trust and obey him.
Jesus has ascended to heaven to rule. Now he fills his people with his Spirit, sends us out to witness to him and prepares to return in glory and power.
May we be thankful for the gift of the Spirit.
May we be empowered to share the message about Jesus from here to the ends of the earth.
May we be full of hope for the day that Jesus returns.
Let’s pray.
Father, thank you that we have such a wonderful saviour. We are so glad that Jesus died for us and rose to life and is now ruling in power from heaven. Help us to be thankful for the Spirit he gives to us. Empower us by that Spirit to tell people from every language and nation about our king. Fill us with hope for his return in power and glory to put all things right.
Amen.