This reading is the
appointed Gospel lesson for Ascension Day, which is tomorrow. I am taking things out of order for the week
because the first lesson for Sunday is Acts 1:12-26, and this will allow me to
treat those verses in the order of the narrative of Acts.
One of the aspects of Acts – and, indeed, all the
Biblical books! – is that they are what historians call primary sources. Luke,
the author of The Acts of the Apostles, states that his goal was to “compile a narrative
of the things that have been accomplished among us,” and he desires to put
together an “orderly account” that deals with the reports of eyewitnesses (Luke
1:1-4). That goal remains in Acts. It is a continuing record of Jesus’
ministry, although Acts records the shift from Jesus’ direct ministry in the
world to working through the Holy Spirit in the ministry of the Apostles and
those who came to believe in Jesus through their ministry.
Why does that matter? Because this is a historical account.
Luke’s goal is to record the facts of the matter. He displays Jesus, through
the Holy Spirit, at work in the lives of real people. People who, had we lived
in the first century, would have looked, dressed, and acted just like us. It
reminds us that the Holy Spirit is still at work in the world, and he does that
work through the Word and the Sacraments in the lives of real people.
This passage tells us about Jesus’ instructions to the
Apostles and his return to heaven.
The instructions are to wait for the Holy Spirit. After
they receive the Spirit they will be Jesus’ witnesses. They are there to tell
people that Jesus was crucified and that he rose from the dead. This is our
mission, too. Note that Jesus says that their work will begin in Jerusalem, and
then he moves outward to Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth. You and I
are products of their witness, and that their testimony has made it to Ohio
(where I live) is truly a miracle as this is really the ends of the earth from Jerusalem!
After Jesus gave his instructions he was “lifted up.” If
I understand this rightly, he just started to float up into the sky as the
disciples watched. He returns to heaven, from whence he came all those years
ago when he was, “conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary.”
There is something very important happening here. When
Jesus was conceived, God took on human flesh. We call that the Incarnation.
Now, when Jesus returns to heaven he brings his humanity with him into the
godhead. Jesus is still truly God and truly human. He is still the one who
touches both God and humanity as our Redeemer.
Some people think it is strange that the Apostles stand
staring at the sky until angels (two men in white robes who appear out of
nowhere) tell them that one day Jesus will return. I think it is a pretty
normal response to seeing someone fly! The angels’ words, however, serve as a
reminder of the mission Jesus gave them. It is as if they are saying, “Don’t
just stare into heaven. Be witnesses.”
Where does the Holy Spirit give you opportunity to be
Jesus’ witnesses? When do you get caught staring into the heavens and
forgetting that Jesus is coming again?
Lord Jesus, when
you ascended into heaven you left your followers with the promise that the Holy
Spirit would come on them, and then they would be your witnesses to the ends of
the earth. Thank you for keeping that promise, where we stand all these years
later show that the Good News has come even here. Forgive us for the times we
have not waited on the Holy Spirit and the times we have not been your
witnesses. Help us to remember that you are going to return, and empower us to
go about the work you lead us to do. Amen.
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