Two Promises and a Program (Acts 1:4-11 & Luke 24:50-53)

Ascension Day is one of those days that like Palm Sunday and Pentecost is gradually falling from the church calendar. However, Ascension Day marks a very important event in the life of the Church that is scarcely less significant than the Birth of Jesus. Although it is only Luke who records this event, briefly in his gospel and with a little more detail in Acts.

The Birth of Jesus heralds His entry into this world, and Deity taking upon itself the form of man. Whilst Ascension Day marks the end of the Lord’s earthly ministry, it also marks the day ‘the dust of the earth’ entered into the very presence of God in heaven itself. Arguably it marks the inauguration or founding of the Church more accurately than Pentecost, which really celebrates the empowering of the Church.

Ascension Day took place forty days after the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. During those forty days Jesus made some ten appearances to the disciples, not only ‘The Twelve’, but the wider body of disciples (up to 500 at one time 1 Corinthians 15:6), sometimes sharing a meal together (John 21:12).

It would be vital for a large body of witnesses to bear testimony to the fact of Jesus resurrection and being alive, to give credence and validity to the glad tidings they were to announce to all men everywhere. John gives his personal testimony in his epistle 1JOHN 1:1 where he seems to have in mind the Lord’s appearance to the disciples (Luke 24:39).

Paul gives a list of witnesses 1COR 15:1-8. Such a body of evidence cannot easily be denied. Furthermore, being a witness to ‘His resurrection’ would become an essential requirement for Apostleship (Acts 1:22).

So for the last time we find Jesus in company with his disciples (Acts 1:4), some think they shared a meal at this time (NIV and AV margin, based on ancient texts). It was certainly a special event, for the Greek word used here is nowhere else used in scripture. Unlike the Last Supper, this meal is not established as a memorial and an ordinance. It is more akin to the eating of the Passover Lamb when Israel stood ready to depart from Egypt. The disciples are about to depart to the ends of the earth, to usher in the Church age, extending the kingdom of God.

Then Jesus led them out as far as Bethany (Luke 24:50), to Mount Olivet (Acts 1:12). Both places have featured prominently in Jesus ministry, so it is no surprise that Jesus should chose a familiar place for His final meeting with His devoted followers. Perhaps we should take note of this, fellowship with the Lord is to be found in the old ways, the familiar places (Jeremiah 6:16). Here to, we like them, will receive instruction and empowerment.

Program.
It is perhaps understandable that the disciples would have been excited by such a gathering together, and at being led out from Jerusalem by Jesus (Luke 24:50). Surely this will be the time when Jesus will take His place in restoring the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). Picture the scene, the last stragglers arrive and they surround Jesus expectantly. Will this be a call to arms? Somewhat impatiently they put to Him the question, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’

The rebuff, ‘It is not for you to know times and seasons which the Father has put in His own authority’ (v7) . God’s ways are not our ways. God works to His own time scale and agenda. God’s kingdom is not a physical kingdom but a spiritual one. The only sword will be the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, the only shield the shield of faith (Ephesians 6;10-17). ‘You are to be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Witnesses to the grace of God in sending Jesus!

The Eleven disciples had already been commissioned to make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things. (Matthew 27:19,20). They have known for some time the nature of the task ahead, like troops preparing for a crucial battle or daring raid. But now they are informed where the action is to take place, this is their final briefing.

So, charged with being witnesses, they are to commence their work not in some far outpost of the Roman Empire, but right here at home, in the very place they were being persecuted, in the very place where they hid in an upper room for fear of the Jews, the place where Jesus was crucified, in Jerusalem itself.

For many today the hardest place to be a Christian is at home, especially if there is no other Christian in the family. Much easier to go to some distant place where you are not known. But no, Jerusalem is where the spiritual battle must first be fought, and won.

And in Samaria, the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans, they are a despised people. Yet we find Jesus going out of His way to meet a Samaritan woman at the well side. If witness at home is hard who would chose to go to the despised, the outcast? Well they are the next on Jesus list, He Himself sets the program and sets the example for us to follow.

Only then can the disciples go to the end of the earth, to far distant lands, so too for us mission must start on our doorstep, our Jerusalem.

Promise 1.
Many times during Jesus ministry the disciples had found themselves powerless in the absence of Jesus (Matthew 14:22-33; Matthew 17:14-21; Luke 5:5). So how will they cope on their own? For such a mammoth task they will need assistance, help.

Jesus has already taught them concerning the coming Helper (John 14:15-18; 16:5-15), now He tells them they are about to be empowered by a personal encounter with the coming of the Holy Spirit (v8). Throughout the Lord’s ministry on earth there had been times when without the personal presence of Jesus the disciples had been powerless, even fearful. But now, the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus is to be the Comforter, the Helper who will dwell with you and be in you (John 14:16). So that at all times, whatever the circumstance, divine power is at hand to help.

What a wonderful resource, to have divine help at all times, and in every situation. Sadly we too often neglect the leading and guidance of the Spirit, and that neglect is reflected in our powerless lives and witness, and in stunted spiritual growth. Oh that we would seek the Spirits empowering then we might see the result the disciples saw at Pentecost!

They are to wait in Jerusalem not many days (v5) (actually ten days) until they are baptised with the Holy Spirit. They must not be hasty, there is business to attend to, a replacement for the traitor Judas must be elected. And they must come together in unity and harmony with one accord (Acts 2:1). When that unity and harmony was present then the Spirit came.

Note how Jesus describes the coming of the Spirit to each one. You shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit. However we understand the manner or form of baptism, we are to expect a life changing event, which will turn cowardly cringing disciples into powerful witnesses of Jesus Christ. For it will be only when they are thus equipped, empowered, that they will be able to take the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, facing all manner of perils, persecutions and even martyrdom.

Promise 2.
The Lord lifted up His hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50,51). Then as they watched Him rise into the air a cloud enveloped Him. As they gaze steadfastly toward heaven two men in white addresses them.

First, note the cloud in scripture almost always indicates God’s presence, Sinai, Shekinah, pillar of cloud etc. So although Jesus is leaving them, this event has Heavens seal upon it. God is present.

Why do you stand gazing into the heavens? To anyone who has stood on a railway station waving goodbye to a beloved one, and standing looking with longing down the line at a fast disappearing train, this question seems rather harsh. Jesus, their beloved Lord has just been received into the heavens and they gaze longingly after Him, no doubt if they could they would have willed Him back with them.

The two men in white have some wonderful news. This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). The news that Jesus would return is not new information, Jesus had promised this when He was still with them JOHN 14:3, MATT 26:64. This is confirmation from heaven itself that this same Jesus, the One they love, the One they have followed, the One they saw hanging on a cross, the One they saw after His resurrection, the One they had handled, and eaten with, would return. God will not send an angel or archangel to gather the redeemed into heaven. He will send this same Jesus. As the visible presence of God enveloped Him as He left earth for heaven, so the visible presence of God will be the clouds upon which this same Jesus returns to take His people home to be with Him.

So as we remember the Lords ascension into glory let us be encouraged to follow the Lords program for mission, to seek a fresh enabling of the Spirit, to anticipate more eagerly the return of this same Jesus.

Against the Law

Thirty five miles an hour in a thirty mile per hour zone! The evidence apparently was there, on film, in the possession of the South Wales Constabulary. And so I found myself, one Friday afternoon a few weeks back, on a Speed Awareness Course at the YMCA in Newport. Four hours of watching videos, group exercises and listening to the professionals, rather than three points on my license and a hefty fine. But I don’t need to say much more, because quite a few of you reading this have been on a course like this too, haven’t you? Some of you have even admitted to it!

I wasn’t on my own that afternoon. There were almost thirty others, from a seventeen year old to a chap in his seventies. They were male and female, of all shapes and sizes. The only thing we had in common was that we were all in the wrong. Our driving had broken the law. We were guilty. I was reminded of what the Bible says about our lives on a far greater scale. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

The afternoon started with us giving a list of reasons why we might occasionally (!) break the speed limit. They ranged from the understandable – to get someone to the doctors because they were ill, to the farcical – ‘I needed to get to the petrol station before I ran out of petrol’, but our instructor reminded us that there was no good reason to break the law and that the consequences of speeding and illegal driving were serious. Sometimes it leads even to death, either of the driver or of another motorist or a pedestrian. I thought again of sin and how we can always think of an excuse to justify our breaking of God’s law, but there is no excuse. What is more, “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23).

By this point in the article, I know what you are beginning to wonder. Did he learn anything about driving, or did he spend the whole afternoon jotting down sermon illustrations? Well, yes, I hope I did learn a few things. Apparently wherever you are driving you are never more than 20 yards away from a clue to the speed limit on that road, particularly if you keep an eye on the lamp-posts. If they’re in a regular pattern, you should expect it to be thirty miles an hour. Otherwise there will be plate size signs on them declaring what the speed limit is. We are without excuse. But again I found myself thinking of spiritual realities. All around us; in creation, in our conscience, in the Bible, and ultimately through Jesus, God has spoken to us about our sin, and our need of His forgiveness. How good God is! How without excuse we are!

The best part of the afternoon was right at the end. The instructor told us that because we had completed the course, he could press a button on his laptop and send our details back to the office. That meant the slate was wiped clean. Our speeding transgression had been dealt with. No more punishment. No fine, no penalty points. Gone! Your sins and mine can be forgiven, dealt with in an instant too, but not by our doing a course, but by Jesus dying in our place, and giving us his righteousness. Are you still guilty … or forgiven?