Dearest e-votees-
Thursday of this week is the day of the church year that is set aside to commemorate Jesus ascending back into heaven after spending 40 days (see verse 3 below) after Easter offering convincing proofs of his resurrection and talking with the disciples about the kingdom of God.
In another 10 days (50 days after Easter) is the high holy day of the church we call Pentecost.
May the Holy Spirit blow through these words and through all of our days.
Peace,
Karl
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1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
The ascension is the connector between Luke and Acts. Both of these books are written to Theophilus (see Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1) which means literally “God lover”--perhaps written to someone named “God lover” or perhaps to a community of lovers of God. Certainly the Holy Spirit inspired and preserved these books so that those of us modern lovers of God might receive the testimony as well.
The ascension is the last scene of Luke. The ascension is at the very beginning of Acts. The ascension is confessed freely in the creed: on the third day He rose again, He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. The ascension is not unlike the transfiguration of Jesus—powerful, unearthly, hard to grasp, leaves the witnesses stunned and makes a lot more sense after some time has passed and some meditation and reflection have been accomplished.
If you ever find yourself in Sioux Falls, SD and have a chance stop by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and look at the artwork behind the altar. They have a stylized depiction of Acts 1:10-11. It is stunning and inviting. It draws us into the account of Luke and reminds us that Jesus will come again (also part of the creed).
Jesus promises power when the Holy Spirit comes that we might be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Jesus says in John 16:5-16 that it is better that he go so that the Holy Spirit can come and do the Spirit’s work. Jesus is going but will come again. In the mean time we have the comforter, the advocate, the breath of God—the Holy Spirit.
God, stir up your Holy Spirit in us. Send us as your witnesses…
to our close and familiar places (home, work, friends, family)—Jerusalem.
to our surrounding and sometimes more challenging places (neighbors, communities, enemies, strangers and interlopers among us)—Judea and Samaria.
to the places we have yet to encounter (new communities, foreign lands, unfamiliar ideas and circumstances yet to arise)—the ends of the earth.
and help us bide our time well until Jesus returns again. Amen.
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