The Final Countdown--Ascension
Today (May 29) the Church Calendar celebrates Jesus' ascension back to The Father in heaven. Jesus' ascension is the beginning of the final 10 days (of 50) that culminate in the Feast of Pentecost and the bestowing of The Holy Spirit.
Acts 1 gives an account of this ascension day. Jesus has been teaching his followers for 40 days about The Kingdom of God. The text also indicates that Jesus gave "commands through The Holy Spirit'' (Acts 1:2) to these followers.
Acts 1 reveals that Jesus gives the content of these commands. First, Jesus commands them to go back to Jerusalem and "wait" for The Promise of The Father. They have understanding through Jesus' teaching about The Kingdom but are still not prepared for life and ministry, so the command is given to wait.
A second command is the command of content or what being filled with The Holy Spirit will be. This content is that the filling of The Holy Spirit will be power for witness (Acts 1:8) to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the rest of the world. This will not be a limited witness but the command of a witness to the whole world. Upon the completion of this command Jesus "was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight (1:9).
The response of the disciples is to stare not heaven. But as the disciples stare in heaven "two men stood my them in white robes" question why they are looking into the sky. The men inform them that Jesus WILL return in the same way....in a cloud.
Upon hearing this statement from these two men the disciples of Jesus go back to Jerusalem and wait.
REFLECT: Jesus gave us all these, and other, commands to live out before He returns. Our role is to be living out his command when he returns.