Acts 1:6-11 (NIVUK)
6 Then they gathered round him and 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.’
How do we respond to Jesus taking the throne? This second telling of the ascension story by Luke suggests the response that Jesus is looking for, that of serving him by being his witnesses in the power of the Spirit, until his return. Just as people are still talking about the coronation service, we’re encouraged to keep on chatting about Jesus until that day, pointing towards him. What experience of him could you share?
Lord, we’re looking forward to your return, until then, help us by your Spirit, to serve you by pointing others towards you and what you have done for us.
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash
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