Sky

The Apostles watched as Jesus ascended into the sky and disappeared behind a cloud. How did they feel watching him leave? I imagine they felt an overwhelming confidence that Jesus really was the Messiah, but they were also anxious for him to begin “restoring the kingdom to Israel” (verse 6). His response to their anxiety was to tell them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority” (verse 7).

They wanted to know the plan, but God wanted them to trust him, while promising they would receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells them they will be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, and then ascends into heaven.

Watching him ascend into heaven must have filled the disciples with awe and confidence, but then they were left alone, and were unable to physically fellowship with Jesus. Of course it was just the beginning of a much deeper, even more real, walk with Jesus. Rather than following Jesus’ physical footsteps, they had become his feet, doing his work wherever he sent them.

But imagine what it would have been like to stare into that sky as Jesus disappeared. I imagine the sky would have become a constant reminder to the Apostles of Jesus’ return.

“You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?”

Two men in white clothing awakened the Apostles from their sky gazing, “This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”

Though the Apostles were longing for Jesus’ return, they couldn’t stare at the sky forever… They had work to do.

“You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth”