Imagine this scene in Acts 1:9-11. “… as they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud took him from their sight”… ‘Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?’”
What does this scene remind you of?
It is the airport departure scene. For many of us, immigrants to the United States, or who have family and friends who have migrated to and worked in some foreign country, this scene is very familiar to us. It is the poignant picture of a family member sadly left behind, while Mom, Dad, brother, sister or relative leaves for a foreign country to work.
What does this scene remind you of?
It is the airport departure scene. For many of us, immigrants to the United States, or who have family and friends who have migrated to and worked in some foreign country, this scene is very familiar to us. It is the poignant picture of a family member sadly left behind, while Mom, Dad, brother, sister or relative leaves for a foreign country to work.
There is of course the prospect of a better life for those left behind because of the financial support to be sent. Arrangements have been made so that the children are left in the care of the grandparents or some close family member. Then there are also the instructions to the children to study well, to behave and to take care of each other while the parents are working overseas. Then there is the promise of a return in a few months or a few years or a petition to the new country and all would be reunited again.
But for the apostles who were not used to this set-up, they were left “standing there looking at the sky.” But the Lord Jesus, like a true, loving and caring Father, made all the necessary arrangements and preparations to take care of His children when the time came for His Ascension and He had to go.
1. Jesus rose from the dead to give new life to His children. The Lord’s Easter rising opened the door to His Ascension.
2. He spent time with them. Acts 1:3, "…appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."
3. He explained to them in John 16:7 why He had to leave. “…it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
4. In John 14:28, He explained to them what was happening. “I am going away and I will come back to you. If you love me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.”
As if this were not enough, Jesus assured us that we would not be left alone. He promised us the best guardian, best caregiver of our lives, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who came at Pentecost, a week after the Lord’s Ascension.
The good news of the Ascension is the assurance that our Savior "will return in the same way that you see him going into heaven." This tells us that there is Life after death. In John 14:2-3, the Lord lovingly promises us that "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself."
While the Lord is preparing this dwelling place for us, He has also called us to do the same here on earth, to open dwelling places within our hearts and in our lives to the people around us. This calling is very real in us today. We are called to a new life through the renewal movement of the BLD community. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit were reawakened within us through the Life in the Spirit Seminar. After undergoing the formation program and staying within the community, we are now enjoined to go out and evangelize the world and to welcome everyone into the community of the Lord where there are many dwelling places.
The Ascension should strengthen and nourish our desire for our grand reunion with our Father in heaven. It is in heaven that the Lord lovingly awaits us for our final homecoming, to be reunited with Him and all the angels and saints.
But for the apostles who were not used to this set-up, they were left “standing there looking at the sky.” But the Lord Jesus, like a true, loving and caring Father, made all the necessary arrangements and preparations to take care of His children when the time came for His Ascension and He had to go.
1. Jesus rose from the dead to give new life to His children. The Lord’s Easter rising opened the door to His Ascension.
2. He spent time with them. Acts 1:3, "…appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."
3. He explained to them in John 16:7 why He had to leave. “…it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”
4. In John 14:28, He explained to them what was happening. “I am going away and I will come back to you. If you love me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I.”
As if this were not enough, Jesus assured us that we would not be left alone. He promised us the best guardian, best caregiver of our lives, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who came at Pentecost, a week after the Lord’s Ascension.
The good news of the Ascension is the assurance that our Savior "will return in the same way that you see him going into heaven." This tells us that there is Life after death. In John 14:2-3, the Lord lovingly promises us that "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself."
While the Lord is preparing this dwelling place for us, He has also called us to do the same here on earth, to open dwelling places within our hearts and in our lives to the people around us. This calling is very real in us today. We are called to a new life through the renewal movement of the BLD community. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit were reawakened within us through the Life in the Spirit Seminar. After undergoing the formation program and staying within the community, we are now enjoined to go out and evangelize the world and to welcome everyone into the community of the Lord where there are many dwelling places.
The Ascension should strengthen and nourish our desire for our grand reunion with our Father in heaven. It is in heaven that the Lord lovingly awaits us for our final homecoming, to be reunited with Him and all the angels and saints.