Taken up before their very eyes
Acts Chapter 1: 1 - 12
I once knew a man whose family had been very successful in business.
One of the principles that he had learned had been – buy in bulk. The sound principle he had been taught meant that if you bought a lot you got it at a better price and, consequently, made a greater profit.
Well, the time came, when the man was put in charge of purchasing by the family.
I want to protect his identity so I will change the details.
A man came into the purchasing department and was selling spring washers. Well the store sold a small amount of spring washers and prudence would suggest that he would buy a small amount.
But throwing caution to the wind the young man signed an order for a whole truck load of spring washers – even for this chain store it was a huge amount.
The spring washers duly arrived and of course the firm was in an uproar.
What were they to do with such a large supply of spring washers?
But ringing through the young mans ears were the words – Buy in Bulk!!!
Of course because he had a loving and sensitive family he learned his lesson and went on to be a successful businessman.
Perhaps he thought in his mind I am too young to take such responsibility.
Why did they put me in this position???? Could well have been the question in his mind.
“Nobody told me the principle of buying according to turnover!”
I feel so inadequate>
If he felt that way how do you think the disciples felt that day on the hill when Jesus ascended into heaven.
Here were the disciples looking up in the sky – catching their last glimpses of Jesus when – He simply vanished with a total air of finality.
Acts 1_, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
For forty days since his death and resurrection Jesus had variously been around his disciples and the Jerusalem community. Suddenly he was taken away.
Like my friend who was left in charge of the purchasing department they may well have felt that they were not yet ready for the responsibility.
But Jesus had talked to the disciples quite some time ago about this very event:-
John chapter 16 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
It has been said that the ascension of Jesus is one of the most neglected seasons in the life of the Christian Church.
At the end of the gospels in various forms we read of the commission of Christ to the Church.
Matthew reports Jesus as saying:- Ch.28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
In this we find some strong clues as to why the ascension of Jesus is so pivotal to the Christian Church.
This morning I would like to encourage you about some of the details about Jesus Ascension and to show why, for us, it is an incredible miracle in it’s own right and also a pathway for success for us as Christians.
Suddenly we find ourselves responsible for sharing the Christian message.
But as one man said:-
One time, I made a homemade kite. I used about a thousand yards of my grandmothers crochet thread for the string. I let that kite out as far as I could on that string. So far in fact, I could not even see it. But I knew it was there because I could feel it pulling on the line.
The first thing we note is Jesus is still very much alive. AC 1:1 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. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 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."
Jesus made it clear to his disciples that he was physically alive. His physical death was real but his life was sinless – he had never sinned – death’s power is dependent on sin and it could not hold Jesus Christ. He defeated death.
After his death, he was different he appears in a closed room – he is not always immediately recognized – but he grows to great length to show that it is him.
As Luke writes verse 3 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.
What happens after the resurrection is perfectly in keeping with what happens before the resurrection.
A couple of examples from Jesus’ life will be sufficient to illustrate what I am saying.
As a physical man Jesus walked on water – John chapter 6 verse 19 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; don’t be afraid."
The response of the disciples and the comfort of Jesus are very similar in one of his resurrection appearances:- LK 24:36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
LK 24:37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
LK 24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
There is real continuity here on another occasion, before his crucificion Jesus MT 17:1 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. -
MT 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
In this passage Jesus is revealed in all his glory – this is such a revelation of who Jesus really is and the condition of created mankind – without sin. What Peter James and John saw on the top of the mountain was something of the fullness of God that was in Jesus all the time
His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. - before his death Jesus in many ways did not let his glory show. But it was there alright.
You see it when he faces some of the scars that sin has carved across the face of the earth.
You see it when he touches the Leper – forgives the adulterer and multiplies the bread and fishes.
Here at the transfiguration the sinless Christ ascends into heaven –
Jesus connects earth with heaven here – it is a wonderful affirmation that matter in itself is not evil – sin came into the world but the world originally before the debacle of Adam and Eve’s error was God’s creation and it still is.
The first thing we should take from the ascension of Jesus is that heaven and earth can connect. Both are God’s creation.
No-one else could have done this – but because Jesus has done this for you and for me we have the same inheritance – undeserved as this is.
The second thing we gain from the transfiguration is that God Trusts His Church. God entrusts the work of the Kingdom of God to the Christian Church. This is both an awesome, privileged and yet serious responsibility.
Sometimes we find ourselves in positions of responsibility that we don’t feel prepared for.
Some of you will know this story but I will tell it again.
Some years ago I felt God calling me to go and share the gospel with a man who owned a fish and chip shop in a resort town not too far from here.
I rang him, and yes, he would see me.
I drove up to his store and shared the gospel message with him as he cooked his meals. The store was open but here were few customers about and I was able to lead the man to a Christian commitment and prayed for him. As I prayed for him he got what I would call captured by the love of God – he was so overflowed by the love of God at that moment that he was unaware of what was going on around him. While he was like that someone came into the shop.
The man was of little use so suddenly I found myself running the shop for all intents and purposes. I was thrust into the role.
Well, to my surprise< I was able to fill the customers order which included making a Hamburger and I guess bagging up some chips.
Left in charge of the store – I rose to the occasion although I hasten to add I am no cook.
Jesus, to put it plainly, has left us to mind the store.
If we don’t do it – who will.
He trusts us and we can take great store from that.
I believe that one of the reasons that Jesus led his disciples up a hill and ascended into heaven was to make a clear demarcation.
He was saying – “I trust you with the mission of the Kingdom of God here on earth.”
Who better to leave to share the love of God with people than people who are in every way the same as the people around them.
Ordinary people like you and me.
In this moment Jesus is saying – “You are able to carry out the commission I have given you.”
It may not be easy but we can do it.
As Paul said in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verses 8 and 9.
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
My third point about the ascension is that Jesus makes the point that it is absolutely necessary so that we might have the power of the Holy Spirit.
We need God’s power to enable us to do that which Jesus wants us to do.
Acts chapter 14 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."
JN 16:5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
In a few glorious days these words came true and the disciples were gloriously filled with the Holy Spirit.
They now had the ability to fulfill the commission God had given them.
Of course it will soon be Pentecost and we will consider much more deeply the work of the Spirit.
I know in my own experience I have increasingly been amazed at the work of the Holy spirit in my life. Often despite me not because of me.
By returning to heaven Jesus is very much giving you the tools for the job.
Summarising I would say Jesus Ascension means.
1.We should learn from the ascension of Jesus is that heaven and earth can connect. Heaven is good – earth is good – sin has dealt with the deformed state of the earth by the blood of Christ.
2. God Trusts us with the Great Commission.
3. He gives us the Tools for the task left for us by Jesus with the Holy Spirit.
Feel free to contact us:
jgullick@xtra.co.nz
