Ascended, Returning

Acts 1:10-11 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “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 do you notice about the details of Jesus’ ascension? Jesus did not immediately disappear from the disciples’ view. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going. This was a very visible physical ascension witnessed by many more than the 11 disciples. We’ll see in Acts 1:14 & 15 there were about 120 eyewitnesses to Jesus’ resurrected body ascending to heaven.
   Then two angels prepared the world for the future. They promised Jesus will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. His return will be as visible as his ascension. Other scriptures in the prophets, epistles and gospels confirm Jesus’ physical return. Just as the promises of Jesus’ first coming have become history, God’s promises of Jesus’ second coming should give us all hope for the glorious consummation of history.
   Why do you think the angels addressed the group as “Men of Galilee”? It seems a small thing, but this might help us understand our own response to Jesus.
   Perhaps God wanted to remind the men of their beginning relationship with Jesus. Most disciples were from Galilee. The gospels tell us there were times Jesus’ teachings and miracles threatened to overwhelm them. Then Jesus’ resurrection and his appearances to them over 40 days was truly a mind-altering experience! God’s promises to the patriarchs and prophets were becoming reality in these men of Galilee. It would be easy for them to step back and say, “This is too much!”
   At this climactic moment, God reminded them they had come from their fishing boats, tax collector’s booth, zealous politics, academics and the like to answer God’s call. Jesus had shown them heaven’s power. And he had given to them the power to heal disease and remove demons. They watched heaven’s glory raise the dead and calm the storms.
   God reminded them of where they had come from as he told them to prepare for their future. The men and women who stood on Mt. Olivet that day found themselves on the crest of God’s greatest movement to draw the nations unto himself.
   Does God have you on the verge of something new for his kingdom? Before we step into new opportunities, it is often good to remember where we were when he said, “Come, follow me.” Consider where he has taken you. Trust where he wants you to go.  
   It is a privilege to be among those God has chosen to help prepare the world for Jesus’ return.