Ascension of Our Lord
Acts 1:1-11 (NRSV)
Jesus sends the apostles
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
ReflectionIn the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
The fortieth day of Easter - forty days in temptation and forty days in resurrected glory. Ascension Day falls on the fortieth day of Easter. Jesus ascends to God's right hand. Jesus resurrection and ascension however, were a combined occurrence that brought exaltation to God. This fortieth day marks the last time that Jesus would be with the disciples before he vanishes into the cloud.
The cloud of God has to remind you of the Cloud that God led the Israelites throughout the wilderness. Jesus likewise ascends into a cloud and gives us direction. Jesus promises his Spirit will come upon us. A cloud envelopes the space it is contained within. A cloud fills and pours out life-giving water. A cloud nourishes growth and brings life. A cloud is mysterious yet very nourishing and helpful for life. We glory in the multiple shapes that clouds bring into our lives.
Now we have the Spirit that moves and breathes life into us in so many ways through so may shapes and fills one another with the life that Jesus Spirit gives us. Jesus vanishes but he is still with us in Spirit to feed us and grow us and nourish us to do the ministry on this earth we have been called to do.
And behind it all is that realm of being that we have beyond flesh and blood, but the spiritual realm of ourselves and all the saints. We have Jesus Spirit now. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, as I see you vanish, I feel your presence in and throughout! Thanks! --- Amen
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