The Return

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE RETURN

Acts 1:6-11

 

6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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."  9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 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."

NIV

Just as we considered what it is to be the witness, by focusing on the exchange between Jesus and his disciples, we take this same portion to ponder the exchange between the angels and the disciples. Although Jesus was in his physical form as he ate with his disciples, he was also in his glorified form, as he was able to appear and walk through a locked door to speak with them. However, in this form, he ascended into the clouds out of their sight. That alone must have been a wonderful sight. They had spent three plus years with him, watching him heal hundreds, many more, performing miracles, and they heard his teaching, including what would happen to him. They saw him crucified, heard his words from the cross, watched him give up his spirit, and were buried. Then they became witness to the fact that he was raised from the dead, and he walked with them for forty more days. At this time in their lives, they watch Jesus ascend into the air, rising higher and higher until he was above the clouds and they could no longer see him. But that is not the end of the story, for the angels suddenly appeared and assured the disciples, which also assures us that Jesus will come back in the same way he left. Jesus will show up in the sky at some time; that is the word from God. Jesus is coming back. This fact has been a point of debate among theologians for centuries. It is not debated that he will come back, but where and when within the context of prophetic words, especially the revelation that was given to John. Some think Jesus will return to the Mt of Olives. Others think every eye will see him in the sky when he appears. Some believe he will first just appear in the sky and call all believers to himself. This is what is referred to as the rapture, or the taking up, the resurrection of the dead, and all believers in Christ who are still alive. Later, Jesus will return physically to the earth for the thousand-year reign. Many books, sermons, and teaching videos have been put forth with various views of how to interpret the scriptures about his return. The point is that Jesus is coming back, and he is coming for us. He also promised that he would prepare a place for us, and that he would come to get us to that we would be where he was. That one fact is all we really need to know. Jesus will descend from heaven, appear in the sky, and we will see him, and a great and wonderful happening will occur. What happens after that is all about showing God's power to bring more people to their knees before Jesus. But for now, we wait, and while we wait, we occupy ourselves by telling the story of Jesus to whoever will listen. Jesus is returning.