Acts 1:1-14

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7 He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

The Ascension matters – even though the events of Ascension Day are among the most overlooked parts of the story of Jesus. Vs. 1-5 give the context, Jesus lived, died, and rise again. For forty days Jesus hung out with the disciples and others of his followers and during that time Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come. In the Ascension Jesus leaves the disciples so that the Holy Spirit can come.    

As Jesus was getting ready to ascend to heaven the disciples asked the question that the followers of Jesus have wondered through the ages – “Is this the time when you will set all things right?” It is a reasonable question – Jesus has been raised to life – death has been defeated – is this not then the sign of the coming reign of Jesus?

Jesus answered, saying, “God know the time – what you are called to is to be my witnesses to all people everywhere.” And with that he ascended to heaven. The angels tell the disciples the way he went is the way Jesus will return.

And we join the disciples who saw the ascension – we join the followers of Jesus down through the ages – all of whom have waited with eagerness for Jesus’ return. Buit we are invited to join with the disciples and the others who joined them in prayer. Prayer is central to what it takes to be a follower of Jesus in this time between his ascension and his return.

Ascension Day reminds us that Jesus is coming again, and tells us to pray with the church through the ages – “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” 

PRAYER: 

O Lord, we rejoice that you lifted Jesus Christ up to your right hand, and that he sits enthroned in heaven with you. We rejoice that he is coming back one day in great glory and awesome majesty to set all things right. Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 102 (Selected verses)

A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the Lord.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you.
2 Do not hide your face from me on the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily on the day when I call.

3 For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace.
4 My heart is stricken and withered like grass; I am too wasted to eat my bread.
5 Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my skin….
11 My days are like an evening shadow; I wither away like grass.

12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned for ever;
    your name endures to all generations.
13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,
    for it is time to favour it; the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants hold its stones dear, and have pity on its dust….
17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
    and will not despise their prayer.

18 Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
    so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord:
19 that he looked down from his holy height,
    from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners,
    to set free those who were doomed to die;
21 so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion,
    and his praise in Jerusalem,
22 when peoples gather together, and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

23 He has broken my strength in mid-course; he has shortened my days.
24 ‘O my God,’ I say, ‘do not take me away at the mid-point of my life,
you whose years endure throughout all generations.’

25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 They will perish, but you endure; they will all wear out like a garment.
You change them like clothing, and they pass away;
27     but you are the same, and your years have no end….

Due to the length of the psalm, I have dropped some verses,

We are not told precisely what the problem is that the psalm writer is facing. But it feels like a physical illness, or maybe a situation or stress in their life that is causing physical/medical problems. In any case the writer feels like they are dying. Vs. 11 and vs. 23 both would suggest that the writer’s death too young seems imminent.

The writer cries to God, asking God to not turn away but instead to hear and to answer speedily. After laying out the need in vs. 3-11, the writer recognizes that God is not like human beings. God is eternal – while people are limited. God is enthroned in power – while human beings have limited power. God is able to act to bring healing and transformation while human beings are unable by themselves to break free from the burdens that weigh them down. God is worthy of all praise and worship – and human beings are the ones who bring that praise and worship.

These differences could so easily cause despair, leaving a sense that God is distant and does not care. But throughout the psalm, the fact that God is not like human beings is a sign of hope and promise. The faithful, eternal, stable God is one in whom we can dwell secure. God will not fail us now, no matter what we are going through. God will be there as God has always been there. In that trust there is hope, security and peace.

PRAYER:

O Lord, to you we cry for we have no one else who will hear and answer us. You have heard your children cry to you through the ages and you have responded, we trust you to hear and respond to our cry. O Lord, hear our cry. In Jesus’ name. Amen.