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by Sandy Shaw
In verse 9 of the first chapter of Acts, the scene is the summit of The Mount of Olives on the east side of Jerusalem. Jesus begins to ascend. He just goes up and up. His work on earth is over. Jesus is going home where He belonged, having been away for 33 years.
He continues to rise, until a cloud receives Him, and the disciples who had accompanied Him, continued looking upwards wondering what this is all about. Two angels appear and ask "Why?"
"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."
Now, Jesus had left them, and all they had was a word of promise.
They went back into Jerusalem. We know they had to wait 10 days - with no Jesus and no Holy Spirit.
Why does this incident remain, to many, so much of a mystery? It is unknown and not easy to grasp and understand, because it is seldom mentioned. Why?
Well, it happened on a Thursday, and there are not many teaching sessions on a Thursday. The Ascension can be easily skipped and overlooked because of its 'difficulties'. It is strange and unusual.
We are glad when people come to us, but we can be sad when people go.
We are glad at His arrival but find it hard to handle the significance of His departure.
Jesus departed two months after He died, and He did not die when He departed, and He took His Body with Him.
Jesus was now entering the joy that was set before Him. The work of salvation had been completely completed. He finished the job He came to do, and the Father accepts His work, His sacrifice on the cross, and receives Him back.
From The Mount of Olives the disciples return to Jerusalem.
We have the names. The inner circle is there - these three men, Peter, James and John, who had been so close to Jesus. Then, the others, and the womenfolks too, including, Jesus dear mother, Mary.
No other religion in the world began with men and women. The womenfolks were a vital part of the patient praying waiting fellowship.
They are patiently waiting, and not rushing around frantically trying to do things.
We have a lot to learn in this area, and know when it is right to do nothing in a sense, and leave it all to God. That is not always easy. We have to learn this as individuals, and as a Church.
Also present are "his brothers". Only a few months ago they said Jesus was mad. There are many members of His physical family. Jesus had won so many of His relatives.
Carefully note the close intimate united prayerfulness, which was very real in that room. They are waiting. They do not know exactly for what, and they do not know for how long they will have to wait.
Now, there's a lesson and a challenge for us.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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