By R. Kevin Johnson
This week Christians commemorate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Like the event recorded in the scriptures, the celebration takes place 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection.
In the first chapter of Acts, Jesus spends a few last moments with his disciples before he ascends to the heavens. In response to their question about the time that he will restore the kingdom of Israel, Jesus says, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 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” (Acts 1:7-8). Then, Jesus is taken up and out of sight while the disciples stand gaping heavenward in awe.
My favorite part of this story is what happens next. The disciples continue to look up and two robed men appear and say, “What are you still doing here? The show is over. Now get busy doing the work of the Kingdom before Jesus comes back!” With that charge, Jesus’ disciples begin a long line of remarkable Christian ministries recorded throughout the remainder of the New Testament and beyond.
A look back at Luke 24 tells modern readers what the disciples did next: “They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God” (v. 52-53). In the midst of all the excitement and distraction of an extraordinary event the disciples were shaken awake — and then they worshiped!
There are several lessons in these verses. First, trust God with the future. The Harold Campings of the world will try to predict the Second Coming. Others will forecast destruction based on anomalies with a human-developed calendar. However, it is clear here (and in Matthew) that no one knows when Jesus will return and time spent trying to figure it out is time wasted.
Second, there are even more exciting things to come. In this passage, Jesus tells the disciples that the Holy Spirit will dwell within each of them and give them power to do the work that Jesus has charged them to do. This promise assures the disciples that the teaching they have received from Jesus will be imparted to many by the boldness of the Spirit.
Finally, don’t forget to acknowledge the Savior in all things. The disciples worshiped continually. They were so very excited about what they had seen, whom they had encountered, and how they had developed that they could not help but worship.
As we continue this season of Easter, the Ascension of Jesus is the next event in a long series of proofs that he is who he says he is. That fact, along with the excited response of the disciples should inspire us to service as we, too, await the Second Coming of the Messiah.