Ascension and Mission

Occassion for the Writing

Acts 1:1–3 (NIV)

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 presented himself to them 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.

Luke is the writer of this book, the part 2 of his historical recording of Jesus Christ. Luke is recording the testimonies of the miraculous that had been spoken about the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. Luke writes both his gospel and the book of Acts to Theophilus. The name means lover of God or one that God loves.

Eyewitness testimony recorded from the mouths of the eyewitnesses, giving proof to the words for if they were recorded incorrectly, the eyewitnesses themselves would have been able to rebuke Luke for his false recording.

The Mission and Ascension

Acts 1:4–11 (NIV)

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.”

Then they gathered around him and 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.”

Jesus promises that the gift of the kingdom will befall his disciples shortly. This gift will be the Holy Spirit, the very indwelling of the Lord Himself. The promises of Christ made in the gospels to individuals like the woman at the well and Nicodemus that we will worship God in Spirit and in truth and that we will become a part of His kingdom through water and the Spirit.

The disciples believed as the prophet Amos had foretold: that the kingdom of Israel will be restored. Amos 9:11-12

Amos 9:11–12 (NIV)

“In that day

“I will restore David’s fallen shelter—

I will repair its broken walls

and restore its ruins—

and will rebuild it as it used to be,

so that they may possess the remnant of Edom

and all the nations that bear my name,”

declares the Lord, who will do these things.

Jesus’ response is not that of rebuking but rather of perspective change. The Kingdom of God is what Jesus was and had ushered in. The Kingdom of God is greater than the Kingdom of Israel, for the Kingdom of God knows no borders or limitations. The Kingdom is not bound by physical, social, political, or economic boundaries.

Jesus gives His disciples as He also gives us a mission. “Be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.” Followers of Christ as called to be heralders of the kingdom of God.

Calvin said, “It is the task of the visible church to make the invisible kingdom of Christ visible. To manifest to people what it would be like to live in a commonwealth ruled by Jesus.”

This is repeated by Christ to each one of us. Remember the Lord’s Prayer. Matthew 6:9-11

Matthew 6:9–11 (NIV)

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

We pray for the ushering in of the kingdom. On earth as it is in heaven.