The Ascension: A Call to Witness and Waiting for the Promise
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After Easter: A Journey to Pentecost
Week 4 & 5 – The Ascension: A Call to Witness & Waiting for the Promise
Introduction
Imagine how the disciples felt after Jesus’ resurrection. Their leader had conquered death. He stood before them alive—a victory beyond human comprehension. And then, just as they were expecting more clarity, Jesus did something unexpected: He ascended into heaven, leaving them standing there, gazing at the sky.
“What now?” they must have wondered.
Last week, we saw Jesus give them the Great Commission—to go and make disciples of all nations. But how could they carry the hope of the world as a small group of ordinary people? And now, just when they needed direction, Jesus was gone.
Yet, this was not the end—it was the beginning.
The ascension of Jesus is not a farewell; it is a handoff. It is a commissioning. The disciples were entrusted, equipped, and empowered to continue His work. And just like them, we, too, are called to step forward, knowing that Jesus reigns and His Spirit empowers us.
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Jesus' Ascension Confirms His Authority
Jesus' Ascension Confirms His Authority
I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach
until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
The disciples must have had this thought...He’s gone again. But this moment was not an abandonment—it was a coronation, an enthronement of the true King.
We call Jesus...Jesus Christ. Or maybe we’ll read “Christ Jesus”..… as a name. Like first and last....
Actually Jesus was His name....it literally means, in the Greek...God saves. It is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua...which means...God saves. Logical right?
For a first-century Jewish audience, the term Christos wasn’t merely a title—it was a declaration of kingship.
Israel had long awaited its Messiah, the anointed one who would reign as God's appointed King.
The ascension of Jesus was the moment when He took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father, fulfilling prophecies like...
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Daniel 7:13-14
I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him.
He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
That’s a prophesy about Jesus...as King.
Jesus' ascension was not a departure—it was His enthronement.
He was not leaving His followers behind; He was ascending to rule over all.
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The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
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And Ephesians 1:20-22
He exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens—
far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he subjected everything under his feet and appointed him as head over everything for the church,
which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
Jesus’ rule isn’t limited to earthly power or visible structures—it extends over all creation. Colossians 1:16-17 makes this clear:
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For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
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...The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.
There are so many other passages...that refer to Jesus being King.
This is the King. Jesus is King.
This means Jesus reigns as King today, not just over nations and kings, but over every facet of creation—including technology, knowledge, and even the ways we engage with truth in the this world.
His kingship is unchallenged, His rule is eternal, and because He reigns, we step forward in faith, knowing that our mission to make disciples carries the full authority of heaven.
His Kingship is cosmic...over everything.
The word Christ isn’t part of his name. It is a description and title. He is the appointed King. When we say the Jesus Christ, it means...Jesus the King.
I think we’ve, at times, said the name...Jesus Christ or Jesus the Christ, and I think we’ve lost some of the full meaning...
If he is Jesus the King...what does that mean of us.
So this is the context into which Luke is writing about this historical account.
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The Promise of the Holy Spirit
While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about;
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”
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So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
He is being enthroned as King...right before their eyes. They still don’t understand this...there’s a process...Jesus says you “will receive power” for....being a disciple maker ...where??? ....from here to the ends of the earth....just wait a little bit.
Wait....
A little boy was standing at the end of an escalator. The sales lady asked, “Son are you lost?”
“No ma’am, I’m waiting for my chewing gum to come back.”
A watched pot never....
We live in a world that doesn’t like to wait. Fast food, same-day shipping, instant access to information—everything around us is designed for immediate gratification.
Waiting feels unproductive, frustrating, and sometimes even painful. When life puts us on pause, we find ourselves restless, questioning why God hasn’t moved yet.
As the disciples stood there, Jesus gave them an instruction that might have felt counterintuitive: Wait.
Parents...kids...i need you to wait...why??? Because...
If you’re king...because is an answer.
"And while staying with them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father." (Acts 1:4)
Imagine how hard that must have been. They were ready to act, to go, to make a difference. But Jesus told them to wait.
Why? Because the mission was too great , to big, for them. They’re not strong enough. They needed power beyond themselves.
Jesus promised:
"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses." (Acts 1:8)
The Spirit doesn’t just give power—He equips us for a purpose. He strengthens us to proclaim truth, love people, and reflect Christ in our lives.
The King is equipping His witnesses.… in the greek this term is a courtroom term. Meaning validation. A witness validates. Why did Jesus call them His witnesses… Because they will soon be going to make disciples...and they will give witness to the truth about Jesus being the reining King for eternity. Witness about the Kingdom that everyone can become a part of...if they so choose to believe and follow the King.
A Mission That Expands to the Ends of the Earth (Acts 1:8-9)
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But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
Jesus outlined a strategy:
Jerusalem – Their immediate community.
Judea & Samaria – Broader, more challenging regions.
Ends of the Earth – The global mission.
When we get to the actual event during pentecost....we’ll see this forward and outward motion take place...and we can confirm it through history.
This pattern applies to us.
What does this look like for us?
Who is your Jerusalem—the people in your daily life?
Where is your Judea & Samaria—the places or people that stretch you?
How do you engage the ends of the earth—through missions, giving, prayer?
We’re the church...ekklesia...called out ones...so making disciples means that we go, invite and call others out. Or...Jesus calls them out through us. So they can be disciples too. Followers of the King.
Memorial Day....why do we call it that? To remember right? Why...because we have some sort of allegiance to our nation, it’s ideals...and certainly we honor those who went forward to defend those things. We have an allegiance, a loyalty, and we honor those who took that alligiance to the ulitmate end.
Very similar here...but with much more authority and meaning. We’ve been asked to choose allegiance to the King of all things visible and invisible...the king over all kings and thrones and nations. We’ve been called to be allegiant to Him.
He calls us into “the fields...for the harvest is ready to go...” Go to people...from here locally to the ends of the earth.
Jesus calls us to step beyond comfort into bold obedience. Jesus isn’t just savior...He’s savior because He’s the King.
And the King has things for us to do in His Kingdom...that will last forever.
Waiting Prepares Us for What’s Next (Acts 1:12-26)
The next section of this passage tells of how they then went and waited...
They returned to Jerusalem...following orders. They went back to the upper room where they had been staying. They were constantly in prayer. Jesus immediate family was there, mom and brothers, the women who had been following along this whole time as well. They were all there....waiting… they brought someone else on board to replace Judas. And they waited....
Why pray? Because the’re anxious? Maybe....But they are in constant connection with their king.
Waiting is not wasting. It is an act of faith.
"They all joined together constantly in prayer…" (Acts 1:14)
The disciples didn’t scatter after Jesus ascended. They didn’t act in impatience. They prayed. They prepared. Took care of some housekeeping.
Throughout Scripture, waiting is a part of God’s refining process:
Abraham waited decades for the promised son (Hebrews 6:15). around 25 years
Joseph waited in prison in Egypt while God shaped him (Genesis 50:20). minimum 2 years...
David waited years to take the throne (Psalm 27:14) 15 plus years!
Waiting is God’s preparation—not His punishment.
God’s Timing is Always Perfect (Acts 1:2, 24)
The disciples sought guidance before selecting Matthias to replace Judas. They didn’t rush—they prayed, seeking God’s will.
How often do we try to force God’s hand instead of trusting His timing?
Biblical examples show us the importance of waiting:
Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands, leading to complications.
David waited through trials, trusting God’s process.
Even Jesus waited for His moment to be revealed.
We often wrestle with impatience, but God is shaping something greater.
Conclusion:
Jesus is King...and sometimes he says....Wait
Waiting is never a waste of time if it is from the King.
Waiting is not a passive season—it is an invitation to deeper faith.
The disciples waited. They didn’t act impulsively. They sought God expecting something great.
What if we shifted our perspective? Instead of asking, "Why is this taking so long?" we ask, "God, what are You preparing me for?"
Because waiting is never wasted. It is purposeful. It is where God strengthens our faith, refines our character, and readies us for His next move.
We’re going to keep going in this line of history. Let’s apply this to our own lives right now...and as a group of people called by Jesus the king to be His disciples.
Let’s pray together.
