Acts 1:9-14. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on May 01, 2022.
We pick up where we left off last week. Jesus has given his final instructions and now he leaves them in a manner that has more of a finality to it.
The term “ascension” is generally used of this event because Jesus used it in John 20:17. He tells Mary Magdalene that, “I have not yet ascended to my Father.” The Apostle Paul also emphasizes this term in Ephesians 4:10. “He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.” This word is also used of the Two Witnesses of Revelation 11. “And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies say them.”
It is important to note that the ascension ends this transitional time of Jesus proving his resurrection to his disciples and focusing them on the task ahead. He will operate from heaven from now on- not that he can’t appear for particular purposes at particular times as he did with Saul of Tarsus- until His Second Coming. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
The disciples watch this whole event. There is no slight of hand happening. We are not told how quickly or how slowly the event happened. It simply states that Jesus was “taken up.” This taken up aspect reminds me of the prophet Elijah. He was taken into heaven in a fiery chariot. However, he was also in a mortal body at the time. Jesus has an immortal, heavenly body that has powers that are essential that of angels. He can appear and disappear, and even ascend into heaven in a fashion that they would be able to see. He does not need a fiery chariot to carry him to heaven. I believe that the ascension of Jesus has a greater majesty to it than Elijah’s. Yet, even it pales in comparison to the descriptions of his Second Coming.
Jesus ascends until he goes into the clouds and is thus out of sight. This way of leaving would help them to psychologically make the transition. He isn’t going to appear again like he has been doing. We need to focus on the task at hand. It will also serve to encourage them that things are as he said they were.
The clouds are in important reference in this description. It has Old Testament connotations to it. Yahweh led Israel through the desert as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Deuteronomy 33:26 tells us, “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty.” God riding through the heavens is connected to the clouds throughout the Psalms even referring to the clouds as God’s chariot (Psalm 104:3). In Daniel 7, the Son of Man comes to the Ancient of Days “coming with the clouds of heaven.”
This is why the New Testament prophecies about the Second Coming of Jesus often mention Jesus coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 24:30; 26:64; Mark 14:62). Jesus is that Son of Man who would ride the clouds of heaven in order to receive the kingdoms of the earth from the Father.
There is no telling how long they were staring into the sky looking for another glimpse of Jesus. We are told that two men in white apparel appear. They are no doubt angels. We have seen many such appearances of such “men” in connection with the resurrection of Jesus. However, it is their message that is most important. Essentially, they ask them why they are still staring at the sky. The disciples are most likely somewhat in shock. This question will serve to knock them out of this state and focus them on what they should be doing now.
They emphasize that this “same Jesus” will return in “like manner” to how he left. This is important. We are not waiting for another Messiah who will get rid of the wicked rulers. It is this same Jesus who died on the cross for us. The suffering servant has earned the right to be our Avenging Kinsman who will come to judge the earth.
Now, the second coming will be far more glorious than the ascension. We are told that every eye will see the Second Coming. However, we can make some comparisons. Jesus will return to earth in bodily form. It is not merely a metaphor for him coming into our heart at salvation. It will be visible, and not an invisible return. He will come on the clouds of heaven. He will return at the Mt. of Olives first. Lastly, the disciples of Jesus will all witness this event one way or another.
Let me take a moment to encourage us to remember that our Lord is coming back, and this earth will not continue forever, as it has since then. Also, though Jesus is coming in bodily form, visibly and actually on the clouds of heaven, there is an important spiritual aspect to all of these. In other words, the metaphorical meaning behind these things is important too. Jesus does come into the life of the believer in a very real way. He is already invisibly here observing all that the world does. Yet, we should not ridicule or reject the literal. The literal and the metaphorical are both important. In fact, you should recognize that the metaphor loses its true meaning if the literal never happens.
The words of the angels serve well to snap them out of their stupor. They now get back on mission. Yes, the mission is to take the Gospel of Jesus to the ends of the earth, but they are also supposed to wait in Jerusalem for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit before they commence. Verse 12 tells us that they returned to Jerusalem in obedience to the earlier words of Jesus. They are supposed to be in Jerusalem when the Spirit of God is poured out.
Jerusalem was filled with places that one could rent due to the several feasts of the Lord that required all Israelite males to come to the city and celebrate. Pentecost is at most 10 days away and people would be arriving and needing a place to stay. The disciples have a place that is large enough to accommodate 120 people (see verse 15).
Luke lists some of the people who are there. The Eleven disciples are there, of course Judas Iscariot is no longer with them or alive. “The women” mentioned are a group of people that would include the sisters Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene, and others. Mary the mother of Jesus is of course there. Notably, the brothers of Jesus are there too. Clearly the resurrection and appearances of Jesus have convinced them from their earlier skepticism.
We are told that these disciples continued in one accord. This phrase pictures a group that is working as a unit with a passion for something. In fact, Paul uses it of a mob in Acts 19. The idol makers of Ephesus had stirred up the whole city and pictures them rushing into the theater “with one accord” in order to seize Paul and his companions.
The passion of the disciples was focused on receiving the Holy Spirit, and so they are spending their time in prayer asking for Jesus to send the Spirit. Two words are translated “prayer” and “supplication” in the NKJV. The first is a general word for prayer. The second emphasizes a petition, or asking. They are waiting for the Holy Spirit, but they are not inactive. They are praying.
We should note that their activity is not focused on their flesh. Yes, they would have to sleep and eat, but they have a single focus and passion for receiving the Promise of the Father! Is it possible that our lives are so full of other things to be passionate about that we are no longer as singular in our passion for the Spirit of God, like they were on that day?
Let us know that Jesus has gone into the heavens. It does not help us to stand still staring at the heavens looking for his return. He will come back at a time that we do not know. Meanwhile, we must be about our Father’s business. We must obey the commands of Christ in taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth in the power of the Holy Spirit. We must be on mission, but also filled with the Holy Spirit. When Jesus comes back, what will he find us doing? May he find us being good and faithful to him and his work.