In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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. 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. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “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.” (Acts 1:1-11 NIV)
This past week, I read a devotion out of an old devotion book. This book was written decades ago. I like it, because it offers a different perspective than the world of today. In the devotion I read, the author asked a question: “What if we could see what’s on the other side of the clouds? All we see in life are the bottom of the clouds. They seem so gloomy. So dark. What if a person could see what’s on the other side of the clouds?” I kind of chuckled. I have! Have any of you ever been on an airplane? Then you’ve seen the other side of the clouds. How does it look? Sunny. It’s always sunny there! Today, we’re going to learn something: We too often live our lives under the clouds. On Ascension Day, Jesus wants to give us a glimpse behind the clouds…
Our lesson is the very start of the book of Acts in the Bible. The full title of the book is “The Acts of the Apostles.” Acts has a unique introduction. Did you notice? The author starts by talking about his previous book. The writer of Acts also wrote one of the four gospels about Jesus. Do you know who it was? Luke. Do you know what gospel Luke wrote? Luke. Jesus’ ascension is the bridge between the two books. The gospel of Luke ends with the ascension of Jesus. The book of Acts begins with the ascension of Jesus. Jesus’ ascension is a key moment! It marked the end of Jesus’ time on earth. But it also marked the beginning of the Christian Church.
According to Luke, after Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to his followers for forty days before he ascended. That’s why Ascension Day is technically always a Thursday. Forty days after Easter Sunday is always a Thursday. We’re celebrating three days late today. Why did Jesus keep appearing to people for forty days? Luke tells us: “He presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.” One main purpose of those forty days was to prove his resurrection beyond any doubt. Jesus gave “many convincing proofs.” Did you know that history is full of people who have set out to prove that Jesus never rose from the dead. Know what often happens? They become Christians! Because it’s true. So many convincing proofs!
But Jesus did one other thing: He “spoke about the kingdom of God.” No surprise: Jesus kept teaching his disciples. What did he teach them? I learned as I studied this that there are false religious groups who have jumped at the opportunity to insert their own teachings into Scripture. Here is one place they like to do it: “Well, this is where Jesus talked about ______, even though those teachings aren’t found in the rest of the Bible.” Do you think that’s a good idea? Make Jesus say what you want? No! Luke tells us what Jesus taught them about: “the kingdom of God.” What’s that? How God rules in people’s hearts through repentance and faith in Jesus.
As he taught them about the kingdom of God, Jesus had one very important command for his disciples. Something really big! He told them to… “wait.” What? We’d expect Jesus to say, “Go out there and get to work!” Instead, Jesus said, “Wait! Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Don’t do anything until you’re filled with the Holy Spirit!” “Wait!” We’re so quick to focus on all that we do. Except, whom do we need to accomplish anything? The Holy Spirit. So, wait! Be filled with the Spirit and his Word.
Here’s instant proof of why the disciples needed the Holy Spirit. It’s the very next verse: “Then they gathered around him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’” Now, we pastors are trained to never make someone feel like they’ve asked a bad question. There are no bad questions, right? Well, this is a really bad question. “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” After all that Jesus had done to save them from their sins, what were his disciples still expecting? An earthly kingdom. “Sure, Jesus, you died on the cross and all, but when are you going to kick the Romans out of Israel?” Can you see Jesus slap himself on the forehead? How could they ask that? Their eyes were clouded over.
Do you know what often clouds Christians’ eyes to the truth of God’s Word? Politics. Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God, about God’s rule in our hearts, about our true home waiting for us in heaven, and what do we think about? How to get the right guy in office. How to get the wrong guy out of office. How to win elections. How to influence politics. Do you know what that is? A cloud. A cloud that doesn’t let you see Jesus clearly. Just like for those disciples…
Maybe you’ve avoided that cloud of politics. Unfortunately, there are so many clouds. What misconceptions cloud your eyes? What preconceived notions cloud over Jesus? Maybe it’s the misconception that life is supposed to be easy. To go well. And every time it doesn’t, you turn your face further and further away from God. Maybe it’s the cloud of entertainment. Do we realize how powerful that is? How much time we spend with sports or music or movies or games and not with Jesus? Jesus’ disciples were looking for the wrong things. They were hoping in the wrong things. They missed Jesus’ true message. They had their heads in the clouds. Do we?
If so, Jesus’ answer is so full of grace and truth. He doesn’t rail on them for their bad question. But he’s quick to emphasize the truth: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” It’s not for you and me to know future dates, like Judgment Day. Who alone knows? The Father. Can we put that to rest? Any person who claims to know a date in the future is lying and rejecting the words of Jesus. Don’t listen to them! Don’t worry about dates. Instead, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Do you see Jesus push away the clouds and let his disciples see what’s behind them? “Don’t focus on politics. Don’t focus on the kingdom of Israel. Focus on the kingdom of God. Focus on being my witnesses to the ends of the earth. Instead of political power, you have a power so much greater: The power of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus wants us to see behind the clouds. It’s so much better! There you find the forgiveness of sins. Eternal life. Faith in Jesus. Don’t spend your time building up earthly kingdoms. Focus on spreading the kingdom of God! In the book of Acts, the disciples don’t mention politics again. They saw behind the clouds. It’s so much better!
Can you picture the disciples shaking their heads? “Ah, yes. We get it.” Don’t focus on Israel. Focus on spreading the gospel in wider and wider circles. First, in Jerusalem. Then in Judea and Samaria. Then to the ends of the earth. “Yes, Jesus, we get it!” And then he was gone. “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
Notice how Luke emphasizes the eye-witness testimony about Jesus’ ascension. They saw Jesus “taken up before their very eyes.” If people hadn’t seen it happen, it would be unbelievable. Jesus ascended into the sky. Without a rocket! Even Elon Musk hasn’t figured this out yet! What must that have looked like? He just went up and up until “a cloud hid him from their sight.” It sounds impossible, except Jesus did that “as they were seeing,” and “from their eyes.” How? He’s God. Nothing is impossible for Jesus. Nothing is outside Jesus’ power. Up he went.
And, suddenly, the disciples were staring at a cloud again. Only this cloud was even worse than that cloud of politics. When the cloud hid Jesus from their sight, another cloud covered their hearts: “He’s gone. He’s really gone. Now what?” The light of understanding the kingdom of God was now clouded by the uncertainty and the fear of Jesus leaving. Like all those moments when it feels like Jesus has left you. Like you’re all alone. Like God has forgotten you. And the clouds all swirl around you. “Why isn’t Jesus here? Why can’t I hear his voice? Now what?”
“They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘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.’” Do you see what God sent those angels to do? To let them see behind the clouds again. It looked like Jesus was gone. Like Jesus was done with them. But Jesus is never done with us. He was going to send his Holy Spirit into their hearts, just like he had promised. He was going to come back on Judgment Day, just like he had promised.
In fact, Jesus’ going was actually a good thing. We’ve heard the Bible’s promises connected to Jesus’ ascension. “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus left that one place so that he could be everywhere with all of us. “God has placed all things under his feet and has appointed him to be head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:22). Jesus left so that he could rule the whole world—including your life—from the right hand of God the Father. “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.” Jesus left so that he could prepare a place for us in heaven and come back to take us there with him. Jesus’ going was a good thing.
God wants you to see behind the clouds. God wants you to see the hand of Jesus ruling in the world. God wants you to see the hand of Jesus ruling in his church. God wants you to see the hand of Jesus ruling in your life. And one day you will see Jesus himself. Jesus will come back on the clouds. He made this promise: “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:27-28). On the Last Day, when you see Jesus come back on the clouds, don’t be afraid. “Your redemption is drawing near.”
This is what Jesus wants us to do, can you see that? To help people see behind the clouds. To help people see the grace and forgiveness of God for us in Jesus. Do you think people need that? Absolutely! I do. There’s someone who has done that for me. His name is Timothy Keller. Have you heard of him? He’s a Presbyterian pastor in New York City. I’ve listened to hundreds of Timothy Keller’s sermons and read his books. God has used him to move the clouds away and help me see Jesus my Savior. Who’s that for you? This past Friday, Timothy Keller died. When I heard, I cried. God used him to remove clouds for me. Now he gets to live behind the clouds. And other Christians need to take his place. Like you. Like me. “You will be my witnesses. You will be my witnesses.” The world needs people to show them what’s behind the clouds.
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