God's love on the move

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

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."

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers (Acts 1:1-14).

In the Apostles’ Creed we say "He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead." But we don’t really think much about Jesus’ ascension. After all, Jesus’ work was done when He suffered, died, and rose from the dead, right? Jesus has redeemed us from our sins. His work is done. Now He can take it easy for a while.

But that isn’t correct. It is true that Jesus has finished the work of paying for our sins. But Jesus is still busy. God the Father doesn’t take time off; He is still creating new life every day, whenever a baby is born or a seed sprouts to life. God the Holy Spirit doesn’t take time off; He is still creating faith in human hearts every day, whenever a child is baptized or an adult listens with open ears to the word of God being preached in church, on TV, or over the radio. And God the Son doesn’t take time off, either.

When Jesus rose from the grave, He did not go to heaven immediately. Over a period of 40 days, Jesus appeared to people who loved Him and trusted Him. To these people only, Jesus gave convincing proofs that He was alive. In Luke chapter 24 we read: He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. It was important that Jesus’ followers know that He was truly alive again. Jesus had said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26). Jesus had to show that He was stronger than death, or all of His promises about unending life would have been meaningless. Jesus’ visible return from death gave all who follow Him proof positive that Jesus can rescue anyone from the clutches of death.

But Jesus still had more work to do, and so after 40 days He gathered His disciples and gave them their final instructions: "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Then he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Jesus returned to heaven. But why? Why didn’t Jesus just keep on living among us? Jesus told His disciples, "I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7). While Jesus walked among us, He taught about God to those who walked with Him along the dusty roads of Palestine; but now He has sent us the Counselor, and Jesus promised that "When the Counselor comes…he will testify about me" (John 15:26). "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26). With the Holy Spirit teaching and testifying about Jesus through Christians all over the world, Jesus is no longer needed here. Jesus has other work to do in heaven on our behalf.

Just before his death Stephen said, "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). For most people, the right hand is the one they use for important jobs, jobs that require skill: writing, using a tool, even eating. It is an honor to be called a President’s ‘right-hand man’, because such a person is entrusted with important duties on the President’s behalf. So it is with Jesus; when Scripture tells us that Jesus is at the right hand of God, it is telling us that the Father has entrusted Jesus with important responsibilities.

First of all, Jesus represents our interests before the throne of God. Paul tells us, "Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" (Romans 8:34). This means that Jesus is making sure that we can enter heaven. He died on our behalf, on the cross; all of the Father’s anger at our sins was inflicted upon Jesus. Now, when we come trembling before God asking to be forgiven for our sins, Jesus says to His Father, "I have suffered the punishment for their sins. I did so willingly, so that You would not punish them, but accept them into our kingdom." Because of Jesus’ mercy, the Father forgives and forgets our sins and calls us His dear children. Every day our Lord Jesus is busy in heaven forgiving our sins.

Secondly, we must remember Jesus’ words to His disciples in John chapter 14: "In my Father's house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you." Jesus is alive in heaven now, preparing a place for us to join Him after each of us dies our temporary, physical death. Just think: Jesus is personally preparing heaven for you.

Thirdly, we must also remember the angels’ words to the disciples the day that Jesus departed: "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." Jesus left, but He will come back; He told his disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:3). Even now, Jesus prepares to return in glory, to destroy the power of Satan and his followers forever.

Jesus does indeed have important things to do in heaven while we await His triumphant return. But just as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all busy, we also are to be busy. When Jesus left His disciples He told them, "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." That is also His instruction to us. Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the ends of the earth. We could say: my city, my state, the United States and beyond. We start at home. All around you are people who don’t know or don’t care that Jesus died for their sins and wants to give them His forgiveness. You need look no further than your school, your workplace, or the next house over. Jesus wants you to tell what you have witnessed by faith—that Jesus died, rose, and ascended so that He is positioned to take that person by the hand and draw him or her into heaven.

You may not live your entire life where you are right now; you might go off to school, or get married and move to a new community. But wherever you go, you will be living among people who will need you to be a witness to them of the mercy that Jesus Christ offers. This is how the word of God spreads—it travels with us wherever we go.

But wherever you end up living, there is one other thing our text reminds you to do. Luke tells us, "They all joined together constantly in prayer." This is very important. It is all too easy to get out of the habit of regular worship after a big change in life. Whether one is confirmed, graduates from high school or college, gets married or moves to a new community, it remains important to gather with other believers regularly to worship God. The writer to the Hebrews says, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). Coming to worship God is not an obligation, it is a privilege. When each worship service starts, God forgives you your sins. Next, He strengthens your faith through the Bible readings, the words of the songs, and the sermon. He promises to listen to your prayers, as you ask God to take care of your needs and the needs of those you love. On some Sundays, Jesus even gives you His own body and blood in Holy Communion, to build you up against the assaults of the wicked world we live in. The only things you give to God are an hour of time, and perhaps something in the collection plate. If you think about it, church services are much more about God giving to you, than about you giving to God.

Jesus is alive in heaven now, working for you—granting you forgiveness and preparing your final, eternal home for your arrival. May this truth live strongly in your heart, here today and wherever you may be tomorrow.