Acts 1:9-11

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."

 

What a goodbye! Right after telling His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit and, with Him, power to be Jesus’ witnesses throughout the world, Jesus was taken up into heaven and a cloud hid Him from the disciples.

 

Luke tells us that the disciples were gazing up into the sky as Jesus was going, but this seems to be after Jesus had already been hidden by a cloud. Maybe the disciples were hoping for another glimpse? Goodbyes are hard. Although Jesus had gone, the disciples were lingering. Although Jesus had gone, the disciples were trying to extend their time with Him by staying there and looking for signs of Him as He left.

 

At least, this seems to be the picture Luke paints. Because while the disciples were gazing up into the sky, two men dressed in white stood beside them. And the first question they asked was, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky?” But they didn’t ask this question out of curiosity about what had happened. They knew that Jesus had ascended into heaven. So this question was a gentle way of saying, “Men of Galilee, there’s no point lingering here any longer. Finish your goodbye. Stop trying to extend your time with Jesus superficially. Go back to living without Him physically here.”

 

In addition, these men said, “This same Jesus will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” What a promise! Jesus will return! For the disciples, this probably tied back into their earlier question (v. 6): “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Because when Jesus comes back, He will restore the kingdom. But Jesus’ answer had been that they were not to know the dates set by the Father for the kingdom’s restoration. Instead, He had promised the Holy Spirit and power to be His witnesses all over the world. So when the angels reminded the disciples that Jesus was coming again, they were also reminding the disciples that Jesus had told them what to do in the meantime. Rather than watching the skies for signs of Jesus, the disciples were to go back and receive His promised gift of the Holy Spirit. Then they needed to live as Jesus’ witnesses. How long? Until Jesus returned. When would that be? The disciples would not know, so they must simply keep telling the world about Jesus. And then, one day, He would return.

 

Father, I am so excited that Jesus is coming back! Please let it be soon. At the same time, though, help me when I think about His return not to spend my time trying to figure out when it will be. Instead, help me when I think about His return to remember the work He assigned to His disciples – and therefore to me – in the meantime. Help me to remember to tell people about Jesus as the Holy Spirit gives me power. May I bring the power of the gospel to everyone I know! And as I do, may many more people look forward eagerly to the day when Jesus returns through the clouds to restore the kingdom.