May 29
“When (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey,” Acts 1:9-12.
After Jesus rose from the grave on Easter Sunday, He remained on the earth for forty days. Scripture reports that during that time He presented Himself alive by many infallible proofs. During those forty days, He continued to give His disciples additional information about the kingdom of God.
At the close of the forty day period, which was a Thursday, He assembled with His disciples on the Mount of Olives. Among other things, He told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which occurred ten days later, on the Festival of Pentecost.
In His final conversation with the disciples, He gave to them and to the Church of all ages the great commission: “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth,” Acts 1:8. Observe that our witnessing for Jesus begins at home; then we reach out into the immediate community. Then we should reach out farther and farther throughout the world. The evangelist Mark expresses Jesus’ commission in the words, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature,” Mark 16:15. This summarizes the business of the Christian Church.
As individual Christians, we have responsibilities as citizens and as employees in the business world. However, as a Church, we are not called to become engaged in the political or the business world. This does not mean that the Church has nothing to say and must remain silent about all political or business matters. We preach the whole Word of God, which has something to say about every topic, and Christians must speak out, for example, on matters that involve the keeping and the breaking of the Ten Commandments, which apply for all people.
However, the Church’s primary calling is to proclaim the Gospel, calling sinners to repentance and inviting them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s Son and the only Savior from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
As Jesus was ascending, we can picture the disciples standing on the Mount of Olives with their mouths open as they looked heavenward and watched Jesus ascend higher and higher until a cloud passed by and they saw Him no more. Then two angels appeared, and they told the disciples that it was not a time to stand around and gaze toward heaven. Furthermore, they were assured that the same Jesus who ascended into heaven is coming again visibly for the living and the resurrected dead to see! Until that day comes, we should be witnessing for Jesus, who loved us and who suffered, died, and rose again to redeem all people of every race, nationality, color, and class. He is the Savior of all! Go quickly and tell!
“Hail the day that sees Him rise,
To His throne above the skies!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners giv’n,
Re-ascends His native heav’n.
There the glorious triumph waits:
Lift your heads, eternal gates.
He hath conquered death and sin;
Take the King of Glory in!
See, the heav’n its Lord receives,
Yet He loves the earth He leaves;
Though returning to His throne,
Still He calls mankind His own.” Amen.