WHAT OUR LORD CONTINUED TO DO
ACTS 1:1-11
THE FORTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD PROVED TO BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE APOSTLES. THEY HAD BEEN TAUGHT BY JESUS FOR OVER THREE YEARS WHILE HE WAS ALIVE. NOW AFTER HIS RESURRECTION HE WAS GOING TO TEACH THEM ABOUT THE MISSION THAT HE WAS ENTRUSTING TO THEM, AND TO THE CHRISTIANS FOLLOWING THEM. IT WOULD BE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE GOD’S AMBASSADORS TO HELP BUILE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THE CENTRAL POINT OF CHRISTIANITY HAS TO BE THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD. CHRIST INSTITUTED A NEW COVENANT THROUGH HIS SACRIFICE, BUT THERE WAS MUCVH TO BE TAUGHT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS KINGDOM AND THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WHEN JESUS WAS ALIVE THE APOSTLES KNEW THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGHT THE LIFE OF JESUS. NOW THROUGH THE INFILLING TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, THEY WOULD HAVE A CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
JESUS WOULD TEACH THEM MORE ABOUT THE UNIVESAL SCOPE OF GOD’S LOVE AND GRACE. NO LONGER WAS IT TO BE JUST FOR THE JEWS, BUT IT WOULD INCLUDE ALL THE WORLD. HE WAS TO TEACH THEM THAT IT WAS NOT IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO KNOW WHEN HIS KINGDOM WOULD BE ESTABLISHED, BUT THAT THEIR MISSION WAS TO PRESENT THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM.
ACTS 1:1-2:
IN MY FORMER BOOK, THEOPHILUS, I WROTE ABOUT ALL THAT JESUS BEGAN TO DO AND TO TEACH 2 UNTIL THE DAY HE WAS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN, AFTER GIVING INSTRUCTIONS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THE APOSTLES HE HAD CHOSEN.
THESE TWO VERSES ARE REALLY STATEMENTS OF INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK. WITHOUT GOING INTO GREAT DETAIL, WE KNOW THAT LUKE WAS THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF ACTS, AND THEREFORE THE FORMER BOOK IS THE THIRD GOSPEL WHICH BEARS HIS NAME.
LUKE SUMMARIZED HIS GOSPEL WITH GREAT BREVITY, “ALL THAT JESUS BEGAN TO DO AND TO TEACH.” IT IMPLIES THAT THE WORK IS UNFINISHED, AND HERE WE FIND THAT THE BOOK OF ACTS IS THE SECOND INSTALLMENT. THERE ARE SOME WHO BELIEVE HE MAY HAVE BEEN CONTEMPLATING A THIRD BOOK AS WELL.
THE FACT THAT IT GIVES THE TIME BOUNDARIES “UNTIL, HE WAS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN” IS AN INDICATION THAT VERSE 2 IS GOING TO INTRODUCE A NEW PART TO THE CONTINUING STORY. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE ASCENSION? THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHO THEOPHILUS WAS. SOME FEEL HE MAY HAVE BEEN A ROMAN SOLDIER WHO CAME TO CHRIST. OTHERS FEEL THAT IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON, BUT WE HAVE NO INFORMATION ON HIM. STILL OTHERS FEEL THAT THEOPHILUS IS SYMBOLIC IN NATURE, NOT DIRECTED AT ONE PERSON, BUT AT ALL CHRISTIANS.
THE NAME MEANS “FRIEND OF GOD”, AND THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN ACTS GIVES US A HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH. IT IS BELIEVED THEN THAT THEOPHILUS IS SYMBOLIC FOR THE ENTIRE CHURCH.
SOME GO AS FAR AS TO SPECULATE THAT THEOPHILUS WAS PAUL’S DEFENSE LAWYER BEFORE CAESAR IN ROME, WITH LUKE-ACTS BEING WRITTEN AS HIS LEGAL BRIEF.
DURING JESUS’ MINISTRY, THERE IS NO REFERENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT BEING UPON ANYONE EXCEPT JESUS. THE SPIRIT DESCENDED UPON HIM AT HIS BAPTISM (LUKE 3:22), FILLED HIM AS HE RETURNED FROM THE JORDAN (LUKE 4:1), LED HIM BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE WILDERNESS (LUKE 4:1,14), AND RESTED UPON HIM AT HIS PROGRAMMATIC SERMON AT NAZARETH (LUKE 4:18).
JESUS WOULD NOW TEACH THE APOSTLES THAT THIS SAME HOLY SPIRIT WOULD EMPOWER THEM FOR THEIR MISSION. FORMERLY THEY HAD EXPERIENCED THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH JESUS, NOW THEY WOULD EXPERIENCE JESUS THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO REALIZE THAT THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AS PRESENTED HERE, IS FOR EMPOWERMENT TO FULFILL THE MISSION OF GOD. IT IS NOT GIVEN AS A NECESSARY EVIDENCE OF CONVERSION.
NOR IS BAPTISM A REQUIREMENT FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT TO COME TO A BELIEVER.
1. THE SPIRIT CAN COME BEFORE BAPTISM
ACTS 10:47-48:
“SURELY NO ONE CAN STAND IN THE WAY OF THEIR BEING BAPTIZED WITH WATER. THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT JUST AS WE HAVE.” 48 SO HE ORDERED THAT THEY BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. THEN THEY ASKED PETER TO STAY WITH THEM FOR A FEW DAYS.
2. THE SPIRIT CAN COME IN CONJUNCTION WITH BAPTISM
ACTS 2:38: PETER REPLIED, “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED, EVERY ONE OF YOU, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS. AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
3. THE SPIRIT CAN COME AFTER BAPTISM
ACTS 8:16-17:
BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT HAD NOT YET COME ON ANY OF THEM; THEY HAD SIMPLY BEEN BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS. 17 THEN PETER AND JOHN PLACED THEIR HANDS ON THEM, AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT IS SPECIFIED IN VERSE 5,
ACTS 1:4-5:
ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM, HE GAVE THEM THIS COMMAND: “DO NOT LEAVE JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD ME SPEAK ABOUT. 5 FOR JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT IN A FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
AND IT IS A REMINDER OF THE TRADITION ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN THE BAPTIST:
MATTHEW 3:11: “I BAPTIZE YOU WITH WATER FOR REPENTANCE. BUT AFTER ME COMES ONE WHO IS MORE POWERFUL THAN I, WHOSE SANDALS I AM NOT WORTHY TO CARRY. HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE.
NOTE WHAT IS MISSING IN JESUS REMARK IN ACTS. HE ONLY SPEAKS OF THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE DOES NOT MENTION WITH FIRE.
NOTE ALSO THAT IN JESUS’ COMMAND IN ACTS 1, THEY ARE COMMANDED TO “WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED”. THERE IS NO MENTION THERE OF ANY NEED TO CHOOSE A REPLACEMENT FOR JUDAS.
THE SPIRITUAL POWER THE “DYNAMIS” IS WHAT WE WILL RECEIVE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTING AND RESIDING IN US. THE ENDOWMENT OF THE SPIRIT IS THE PRELUDE TO, OR THE EQUIPPING FOR THE MISSION OF BUILDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THE GIFT THEN IS NOT THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, FOR INDEED IT IS THE CONVICTING POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT LEADS A PERSON TO CHRIST, AND IS PRESENT WITH THE PERSON FROM THE TIME OF CONVERSION.
THE GIFT SPOKEN OF HERE IS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. “DYNAMIS” IS THE GREEK WORD FROM WHICH WE GET THE ENGLISH WORD DYNAMITE. IT IS A STRONG AND POWERFUL FORCE.
IT IS THAT POWER THAT IS THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND IT IS A GIFT THAT EACH CHRISTIAN CAN KNOW, BUT ONE THAT ALL CHRISTIANS ARE NOT SEARCHING FOR, OR YEARNING AFTER.
THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INVOLVES A CHANGE IN PERSONALITY. WE WILL DO THINGS IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT IN OUR OWN POWER WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.
CONSIDER THE APOSTLES. THEY WERE SCARED FROM THE TIME OF JESUS’ ARREST UNTIL THE DAY OF PENTECOST. THEY SAW THEIR MINISTRY AS OVER. WHEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THEM, IT CHANGED THEIR LIVES RADICALLY. THEY PROCLAIMED THE WORD OF GOD PROUDLY AND POWERFULLY TO ANY WHO WOULD LISTEN. THEY FACED THEIR DEATHS WITH A COURAGE THAT WAS ONLY GOD-GIVEN.
THAT DYNAMIS WAS PASSED ON TO THEIR CONVERTS AS WELL. STEPHEN THE FIRST MARTYR WAS A DISCIPLE, WHEM THEY CHOSE TO BE A DEACON OF THE CHURCH. CONSIDER HOW BOLD HIS DEFENCE WAS, AND THE GRACE GOD GAVE HIM AS HE MET HIS DEATH.
JESUS USED THE OLD TESTAMENT TO EMPHASIZE THAT HE WAS THE MESSIAH THAT ISRAEL EXPECTED. NOW HE WOULD TURN THE REINS OF RESPONSIBILITY OVER TO THE APOSTLES AND OTHER BELIEVERS. JESUS’ LIFE ON EARTH WAS FINISHED, BUT HIS WORK HAD ONLY BEGUN. THE DISCIPLES NOW ASSUMED THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY ON JESUS WORK.
WE KNOW THAT THE TIME FOR THIS TEACHING BY JESUS, WAS FOR A PERIOD OF FORTY DAYS. ONE MIGHT THINK THAT HE WAS WITH THEM CONSTANTLY FOR THAT TIME, BUT THE COMMENTATORS FEEL THAT THE GREEK TEACHES THAT JESUS WOULD APPEAR AT VARIOUS TIMES AND THEN DISAPPEAR.
IT IS A TIME FRAME WITH RICH BIBLICAL ASSOCIATIONS – THE PERIOD IN THE WILDERNESS, THE TIME MOSES SPENT AT SINAI RECEIVING THE LAW, THE PERIOD OF ELIJAH’S SOJOURN AT MT. HOREB.
MOST OF ALL IT EVOKES THE PERIOD OF JESUS’ TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS (LUKE 4:2). JUST AS IT WAS A TIME WHEN JESUS PREPARED FOR HIS MINISTRY, SO FOR FORTY DAYS THE RISEN CHRIST PREPARED HIS FOLLOWERS FOR THEIRS.
ACTS 1:6-8:
THEN THEY GATHERED AROUND HIM AND ASKED HIM, “LORD, ARE YOU AT THIS TIME GOING TO RESTORE THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL?” 7 HE SAID TO THEM: “IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW THE TIMES OR DATES THE FATHER HAS SET BY HIS OWN AUTHORITY. 8 BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES ON YOU; AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
THE QUESTION ASKED BY THE APOSTLES HERE IS VERY NATURAL. CENTRAL TO OLD TESTAMENT FAITH WAS THE CONVICTION THAT GOD WOULD IN THE END TIME FULLY RESTORE THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL. THEY BELIEVED THAT GOD WOULD FULLY RESTORE HIS PEOPLE TO THEIR INHERITANCE OF THE LAND, WHERE THEY WOULD LIVE SECURELY WITHOUT FOREIGN DOMINATION.
OLD LESSONS LINGER LONG. RABBIS HAD TAUGHT THE IDEA THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL WERE ONE AND THE SAME. THE DISCIPLES HAD NOT GIVEN UP ON THAT IDEA.
THIS WAS SOMETHING JESUS WORKED ON WITH THE DISCIPLES GRADUALLY THROUGH HIS MINISTRY. SOMETIMES WHEN OFFERING A NEW INSIGHT, WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR TIME TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET USED TO NEW IDEAS AND THE NEW CONCLUSIONS THEY BRING. A SERIES OF PARABLES ON THE KINGDOM MUST HAVE MADE SOME IMPRESSION. (MATTHEW 13:24-50) THE MODEL PRAYER SURELY HAD SOME IMPACT. “YOUR KINGDOM COME, YOUR WILL BE DONE AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.”
PETER WAS GIVEN A SPECIAL VISION IN ACTS 10:1-48 TO ALLOW HIM TO SEE THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD WAS REALLY INTERNATIONAL RATHER THAN JUST JEWISH.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS INTERNATIONAL. IT DOES NOT KNOW BORDERS, RACE, LANGUAGE, CULTURE, TRIBE, OR CONTINENT. WHEN GOD MADE THE HUMAN FAMILY, GOD MADE US BROTHERS AND SISTERS BY CREATION. PRIDE OR RACE OR NATIONALITY IS A BARRIER TO THE KINGDOM IDEA.
HOSEA 11:11: THEY WILL COME FROM EGYPT, TREMBLING LIKE SPARROWS, FROM ASSYRIA, FLUTTERING LIKE DOVES. I WILL SETTLE THEM IN THEIR HOMES,” DECLARES THE LORD.
JOEL 3:17-21:
“THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, DWELL IN ZION, MY HOLY HILL. JERUSALEM WILL BE HOLY; NEVER AGAIN WILL FOREIGNERS INVADE HER. 18 “IN THAT DAY THE MOUNTAINS WILL DRIP NEW WINE, AND THE HILLS WILL FLOW WITH MILK; ALL THE RAVINES OF JUDAH WILL RUN WITH WATER. A FOUNTAIN WILL FLOW OUT OF THE LORD’S HOUSE AND WILL WATER THE VALLEY OF ACACIAS. 19 BUT EGYPT WILL BE DESOLATE, EDOM A DESERT WASTE, BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE DONE TO THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH, IN WHOSE LAND THEY SHED INNOCENT BLOOD. 20 JUDAH WILL BE INHABITED FOREVER AND JERUSALEM THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS. 21 SHALL I LEAVE THEIR INNOCENT BLOOD UNAVENGED? NO, I WILL NOT.” THE LORD DWELLS IN ZION!
THIS PASSAGE ARGUABLY IS THE THEME FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK. IT REPRESENTS THE NEW CALLING THAT IS GIVEN TO THE APOSTLES. IT IS THE “RESTORATION OF THE KINGDOM.” THIS WAS COMMENCED WHEN THE CHURCH BEGAN IN THE BOOK OF ACTS AND IS OUR CALLING AND MISSION NOW.
RICHARD LONGENECKER STATES:
“THIS COMMISSION LAYS AN OBLIGATION ON ALL CHRISTIANS…THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ACCORDING TO ACTS, IS A MISSIONARY CHURCH THAT RESPONDS OBEDIENTLY TO JESUS’ COMMISSION.”
THE GREAT COMMISSION IS THE PRIMARY TASK THE LORD LEFT HIS CHURCH. THE CHURCH MUST ALWAYS BE A MISSIONARY CHURCH AND THE CHRISTIAN MUST ALWAYS BE A WORLD CHRISTIAN.
THE MISSION THAT JESUS GIVES THEM IS TO BE “WITNESSES” OF JESUS. THAT WOULD INCLUDE HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY UP AND INCLUDING HIS RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION.
THE GREEK WORD FOR WITNESS IS “MARTYS”, FROM WHICH WE GET THE ENGLISH WORD “MARTYR”. AS EYEWITNESSES OF JESUS’ LIFE AND RESURRECTION ALL BUT JOHN WOULD MEET A MARTYR’S DEATH FOR BEING FAITHFUL IN THEIR TESTIMONY TO THE SAVING POWER OF CHRIST.
TO BE A WITNESS A “MARTYS” IS TO SPEAK FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF FACTS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE. THE APOSTLES AS EYEWITNESSES OF THE SAVING EVENTS WERE WITNESS IN A UNIQUE SENSE. SO ALSO THOUGH ARE ALL THOSE WHO WILL BELIEVE AND APPROPRIATE THE TRUTH OF THEIR TESTIMONY.
THE STORY IS TOLD OF A CHINESE FARMER, WHO AFTER HAVING CATARACTS REMOVED FROM HIS EYES, MADE HIS WAY FROM THE CHRISTIAN COMPOUND TO THE FAR INTERIOR OF CHINA. ONLY A FEW DAYS ELAPSED, HOWEVER, BEFORE THE MISSIONARY DOCTOR LOOKED OUT HIS MAMBOO WINDOW AND NOTICED THE FORMERLY BLIND MAN HOLDING THE FRONT END OF A LONG ROPE.
IN A SINGLE FILE AND HOLDING THE ROPE BEHIND HIM CAME SEVERAL BLIND CHINESE WHOM THE FATHER HAD TOLD ABOUT HIS OPERATION. THEY ALL KNEW THE FARMER HAD BEEN BLIND, BUT NOW HE COULD SEE. HE TOLD THEM OF THE DOCTOR WHO HAD CURED HIM, NATURALLY, ALL THESE OTHER BLIND PEOPLE WANTED TO MEET THE DOCTOR WHO CURED THE BLIND MAN.
THE CURED MAN COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THE DOCTOR DID TO ALLOW HIM TO SEE. ALL THEY NEEDED TO KNOW AND HEAR WAS THAT THE FARMER WAS BLIND, THE DOCTOR OPERATED ON HIM, AND NOW HE OCULD SEE. THEY CAME TO THE DOCTOR.
THIS IS WHAT THE MISSION IS. OUR JOB IS NOT TO CONVERT PEOPLE. OUR MISSION IS TO TELL PEOPLE WHO HEALED US, AND LEAD PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE HEALED BY THE DOCTOR TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY CAN FIND HIM. THIS IS THE MISSION.
THE MISSIONARY’S CHALLENGE IS TO CHANGE OUR ATTITUDES TO THE MISSION AND CHANGE THE WAY WE LOOK AT THE UNIVERSAL SCOPE OF THE MISSION. WE ARE NOT USING GOD TO MAKE THIS LIFE A LITTLE EASIER; RATHER, GOD IS USING US TO EXTEND HIS KINGDOM.
THE ASCENSION NARRATIVE EVOKES RICH BIBLICAL REMINISCENCES, THE TRANSLATION OF ENOCK AND ELIJAH, THE CLOUD THAT ENVELOPED MOUNT SINAI. CLOUDS WERE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH THEOPHANIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
THE DISAPPEARNCE OF CHRIST INTO A CLOUD IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE EVENTS OF THE TRANSFIGURATION IN LUKE 9:34-36, WHERE THE APPEARANCE OF THE CLOUD LED TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MOSES AND ELIJAH.
LUKE 9:34-36:
34 WHILE HE WAS SPEAKING, A CLOUD APPEARED AND COVERED THEM, AND THEY WERE AFRAID AS THEY ENTERED THE CLOUD. 35 A VOICE CAME FROM THE CLOUD, SAYING, “THIS IS MY SON, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; LISTEN TO HIM.” 36 WHEN THE VOICE HAD SPOKEN, THEY FOUND THAT JESUS WAS ALONE. THE DISCIPLES KEPT THIS TO THEMSELVES AND DID NOT TELL ANYONE AT THAT TIME WHAT THEY HAD SEEN.
THE CONCEPT OF THE CLOUD LINKED WITH GOD IS A COMMON OLD TESTAMENT THEME AS WELL. WE REFER TO IT AS THE SHEKINAH GLORY.
EZEKIEL 11:14-25:
THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME: 15 “SON OF MAN, THE PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM HAVE SAID OF YOUR FELLOW EXILES AND ALL THE OTHER ISRAELITES, ‘THEY ARE FAR AWAY FROM THE LORD; THIS LAND WAS GIVEN TO US AS OUR POSSESSION.’ 16 “THEREFORE SAY: ‘THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: ALTHOUGH I SENT THEM FAR AWAY AMONG THE NATIONS AND SCATTERED THEM AMONG THE COUNTRIES, YET FOR A LITTLE WHILE I HAVE BEEN A SANCTUARY FOR THEM IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY HAVE GONE.’ 17 “THEREFORE SAY: ‘THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: I WILL GATHER YOU FROM THE NATIONS AND BRING YOU BACK FROM THE COUNTRIES WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN SCATTERED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU BACK THE LAND OF ISRAEL AGAIN.’ 18 “THEY WILL RETURN TO IT AND REMOVE ALL ITS VILE IMAGES AND DETESTABLE IDOLS. 19 I WILL GIVE THEM AN UNDIVIDED HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT IN THEM; I WILL REMOVE FROM THEM THEIR HEART OF STONE AND GIVE THEM A HEART OF FLESH. 20 THEN THEY WILL FOLLOW MY DECREES AND BE CAREFUL TO KEEP MY LAWS. THEY WILL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD. 21 BUT AS FOR THOSE WHOSE HEARTS ARE DEVOTED TO THEIR VILE IMAGES AND DETESTABLE IDOLS, I WILL BRING DOWN ON THEIR OWN HEADS WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD.” 22 THEN THE CHERUBIM, WITH THE WHEELS BESIDE THEM, SPREAD THEIR WINGS, AND THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS ABOVE THEM. 23 THE GLORY OF THE LORD WENT UP FROM WITHIN THE CITY AND STOPPED ABOVE THE MOUNTAIN EAST OF IT. 24 THE SPIRIT LIFTED ME UP AND BROUGHT ME TO THE EXILES IN BABYLONIA IN THE VISION GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. THEN THE VISION I HAD SEEN WENT UP FROM ME, 25 AND I TOLD THE EXILES EVERYTHING THE LORD HAD SHOWN ME.
THE ANGELS DESCRIBE IN SIMPLE TERMS WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED: JESUS HAS BEEN TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN. THE IMPLICATIONS ARE UNMISTAKABLE. JESUS WILL NO LONGER BE WITH THE DISCIPLES IN THE WAY HE WAS WITH THEM DURING HIS EARTHLY MINISTRY OR IN POSTRESURRECTION APPEARANCES. IN HEAVEN JESUS IS IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY, AT THE FATHER’S RIGHT HAND, WHERE HE CAN POUR OUT SALVATION BLESSINGS AS BY HIS SPIRIT HE DIRECTS AND EMPOWERS THE CHURCH’S MISSION.
ACTS 5:30-33:
“THE GOD OF OUR ANCESTORS RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD—WHOM YOU KILLED BY HANGING HIM ON A CROSS. 31 GOD EXALTED HIM TO HIS OWN RIGHT HAND AS PRINCE AND SAVIOR THAT HE MIGHT BRING ISRAEL TO REPENTANCE AND FORGIVE THEIR SINS. 32 WE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS, AND SO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM.”
THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME QUESTION ABOUT THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST PARTICULARLY DEALING WITH WHEN IT HAPPENED. WE KNOW THAT HE ASCENDED FOR THE FINAL TIME HERE IN ACTS 1 BUT WHAT ABOUT BEFORE THIS.
THE SUGGESTION HAS BEEN MADE THAT JESUS ASCENDED AND CAME BACK AT VARIOUS TIMES DURING THE FORTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE RESURRECTION.
THEY USE LUKE 24 AS A SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR THIS THOUGHT.
LUKE 24:50-53:
WHEN HE HAD LED THEM OUT TO THE VICINITY OF BETHANY, HE LIFTED UP HIS HANDS AND BLESSED THEM. 51 WHILE HE WAS BLESSING THEM, HE LEFT THEM AND WAS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN. 52 THEN THEY WORSHIPED HIM AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM WITH GREAT JOY. 53 AND THEY STAYED CONTINUALLY AT THE TEMPLE, PRAISING GOD.
THEY ARE SAYING JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN ON THE DAY OF HIS RESURRECTION, AND CAME BACK SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE 40 DAYS FOLLOWING AND THAT THE ASCENSION IN ACTS 1 WAS THE FINAL STEP.
I FIND THIS ARGUMENT RATHER WEAK IN THAT IT COULD EASILY BE SAID THAT THIS PASSAGE WAS REFERRING TO THE ASCENSION IN ACTS 1.
THE BOOK OF JOHN DOES MAKE A BETTER CASE FOR REPEATED ASCENSIONS.
LOOK AT THESE TWO PASSAGES:
JOHN 20:17: JESUS SAID, “DO NOT HOLD ON TO ME, FOR I HAVE NOT YET ASCENDED TO THE FATHER. GO INSTEAD TO MY BROTHERS AND TELL THEM, ‘I AM ASCENDING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD.’ ”
JOHN 20:27: THEN HE SAID TO THOMAS, “PUT YOUR FINGER HERE; SEE MY HANDS. REACH OUT YOUR HAND AND PUT IT INTO MY SIDE. STOP DOUBTING AND BELIEVE.”
THE FIRST PASSAGE MENTIONED HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION. IT SAYS THAT IN THE EVENING HE SHOWED THE DISCIPLES HIS HANDS AND SIDE, PROVING WHO HE SAID HE WAS. NOTE THE FACT THOUGH THAT HE DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO TOUCH HIM AND NOTE WHY. “I HAVE NOT ASCENDED TO MY FATHER”
ONE WEEK LATER HE ALLOWS THOMAS TO TOUCH HIS WOUNDS. WHAT OCCURRED THAT WEEK TO CHANGE HIS POSITION? VERSE 17 WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT THE REASON MARY AND THE DISCIPLES COULDN’T TOUCH JESUS WAS BECAUSE HE HAD NOT ASCENDED YET.
IT WOULD LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT IN VERSE 27 HE HAD ASCENDED TO THE FATHER, BUT NOT FOR THE FINAL TIME.
WHETHER JESUS ASCENDED ONCE OR SEVERAL TIMES DOES NOT NEGATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT, NOR THE ANGELS RESPONSE TO THE APOSTLES FOLLOWING THE ASCENSION.
THE ASCENSION MEANS THAT THE HUMANITY OF GOD’S CREATION INTO WHICH HE EMPTIED HIMSELF AT THE INCARNATION HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO GLORY.
PHILIPPIANS 2:
IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER, HAVE THE SAME MINDSET AS CHRIST JESUS: 6 WHO, BEING IN VERY NATURE GOD, DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD SOMETHING TO BE USED TO HIS OWN ADVANTAGE; 7 RATHER, HE MADE HIMSELF NOTHING BY TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, BEING MADE IN HUMAN LIKENESS. 8 AND BEING FOUND IN APPEARANCE AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF BY BECOMING OBEDIENT TO DEATH— EVEN DEATH ON A CROSS! 9 THEREFORE GOD EXALTED HIM TO THE HIGHEST PLACE AND GAVE HIM THE NAME THAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, 10 THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, 11 AND EVERY TONGUE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.
ALL THINGS HUMAN CAN BE REDEEMED FROM THE EFFECTS OF SIN, SO THAT WHAT GOD HAD INTENDED FROM THE BEGINNING, “IT IS VERY GOOD”, CAN NOW BE FULLY ACHIEVED.
THE ASCENSION MEANS THAT CHRISTIANS WILL NEVER BE WITHOUT A VOICE BEFORE THE FATHER. JESUS, THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST, LIVES NOW IN GLORY TO INTERCEDE FOR HIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
THE ASCENSION MEANS THAT THE HEAVENLY REIGN OF OUR LORD HAS BEGUN, AND ONE DAY WHAT IS DIMLY SEEN NOW, WILL BE FULLY REALIZED AS HE BECOMES ALL IN ALL.
EPHESIANS 1:18-23:
17 I KEEP ASKING THAT THE GOD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE GLORIOUS FATHER, MAY GIVE YOU THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HIM BETTER. 18 I PRAY THAT THE EYES OF YOUR HEART MAY BE ENLIGHTENED IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY KNOW THE HOPE TO WHICH HE HAS CALLED YOU, THE RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN HIS HOLY PEOPLE, 19 AND HIS INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER FOR US WHO BELIEVE. THAT POWER IS THE SAME AS THE MIGHTY STRENGTH 20 HE EXERTED WHEN HE RAISED CHRIST FROM THE DEAD AND SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS, 21 FAR ABOVE ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY, POWER AND DOMINION, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS INVOKED, NOT ONLY IN THE PRESENT AGE BUT ALSO IN THE ONE TO COME. 22 AND GOD PLACED ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET AND APPOINTED HIM TO BE HEAD OVER EVERYTHING FOR THE CHURCH, 23 WHICH IS HIS BODY, THE FULLNESS OF HIM WHO FILLS EVERYTHING IN EVERY WAY.
IT MEANS THAT GOD THE FATHER IS FULLY SATISFIED WITH HIS SON AND HAS SEATED HIM AT THE FATHER’S RIGHT HAND WHERE HE REIGNS AS OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST.
HEBREWS 1:3 THE SON IS THE RADIANCE OF GOD’S GLORY AND THE EXACT REPRESENTATION OF HIS BEING, SUSTAINING ALL THINGS BY HIS POWERFUL WORD. AFTER HE HAD PROVIDED PURIFICATION FOR SINS, HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY IN HEAVEN.
THE ASCENSION IS A VISIBLE REMINDER THAT JESUS HAS LEFT THE TASK OF WORLD MISSIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES, EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHOSE WORK WOULD NOT START UNTIL JESUS WENT AWAY.
JOHN 16:7-11:
BUT VERY TRULY I TELL YOU, IT IS FOR YOUR GOOD THAT I AM GOING AWAY. UNLESS I GO AWAY, THE ADVOCATE WILL NOT COME TO YOU; BUT IF I GO, I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU. 8 WHEN HE COMES, HE WILL PROVE THE WORLD TO BE IN THE WRONG ABOUT SIN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGMENT: 9 ABOUT SIN, BECAUSE PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE IN ME; 10 ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE I AM GOING TO THE FATHER, WHERE YOU CAN SEE ME NO LONGER; 11 AND ABOUT JUDGMENT, BECAUSE THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD NOW STANDS CONDEMNED.
THE ASCENSION IS THE SIGN THAT JESUS WILL COME AGAIN TO RECEIVE HIS PEOPLE UNTIL HIMSELF. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ASCENSION IS THE DRAMATIC ASSERTION THAT JESUS WAS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN TO BE WITH HIS FATHER WITH WHOM HE REIGNS THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER.
THE ASCENSION IS A PHYSICAL REMINDER THAT CHRIST IS GOING TO RETURN TO THE EARTH IN THE SAME MANNER, AND A REMINDER THAT WE WILL BE TAKEN TO BE WITH CHRIST TO REIGN WITH HIM FOREVER IN ETERNITY.
