In summary: Speculation about Christ’s return should be replaced with devotion to Christ’s mission. The church has a global mission to accomplish between the ascension and return of Christ. Have you caught the vision for the grand mission of the church? Christ’s commission and ascension is a call to look beyond ourselves. It is a call to take up a mission that is much greater than our immediate concerns, and the concerns of our small community. It is a call to unite with the church universal in a mission that only God has the power to accomplish!
The Book of Acts is a description of the Mission of God. We have seen that 30% of the book contains the preaching and teaching of the apostles. As Luke teaches us in the first verse, in his gospel account he wrote about “all that Jesus began to do and teach.” Which means that Acts is about what Jesus is continuing to do and teach through the apostles by His Spirit. Last week we looked at the promise of the Holy Spirit from Acts 1:1-5. This week we will pick up in verse six where the disciples have their last moment with Jesus before His ascension.
Before we read this passage let us look to the Lord in prayer for his help in understanding it.
Put Your laws into our hearts, and write them in our minds, and let us all be taught of God. Let Your word be for us living and active and powerful; a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart; mighty to pull down strongholds, casting down imaginations and reasonings, and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every through to the obedience of Christ.
Acts 1:6-11
This is the Word of the LORD.
We see Christ’s patience with his apostles in the first half of this passage. Although there is a not-so-subtle rebuke, he follows it up with an assuring promise of the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.
Then we see a similar thing take place between the angels and the apostles. As the apostles remain staring into the sky after Christ’s ascension, the angels give them a rebuke that is followed by a promise of his certain return.
It is easy to poke fun at the apostles for continuing to miss what Jesus was doing. But we can all relate to them in many ways. Like them, we can be easily distracted from the central mission. Like them, we are prone to feeling helpless against cultural persecution. Like them, we have a hard time looking beyond our own immediate concerns. And just like them, we have a hard time looking beyond our own communities.
But what we see emphasized in this passage is that the church has a global mission to accomplish between the ascension and return of Christ.
The promise of His return is enough to keep us focused on the mission. We don’t have to keep staring at the sky. We won’t miss it! We can focus on our mission rather than making prophetic calculations trying to determine something Christ Himself doesn’t even know (Mk. 13:32).
First, we will look at Christ’s Commission (6-8). Second, we’ll see Christ’s Ascension (9-11).
Christ’s Commission (6-8)
These questions had been addressed throughout the 40 days, but the text suggests this is the last question asked of Jesus before his ascension.
V.6 Calvin, “There are as many errors in this question as words.” The apostles’ question reflects several errors:
- “Restore” implies they were expecting a political kingdom. They were expecting Israel to be restored to a place of greatness as under the reign of David.
- “Israel” implies they were expecting a national kingdom. They were not at all concerned with the fate of the Gentiles.
- “At this time” implies they were expecting an immediate establishment of the kingdom.
The Kingdom of God was much grander than they could imagine or understand despite multiple lessons on the subject. The Kingdom of God was broadening in scope. The center of Christianity was shifting from Jerusalem to Rome. The cross had broken down the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:14).
It is entirely appropriate at this point, in light of the recent decisions of our Supreme Court, to stress the false assumption of the apostles that government reform would usher in the Kingdom of God. If we had any ounce of faith in politics, the events that took place on Friday obliterated it.
V.7 Jesus’ answer is for the apostles not to worry about the timing of the consummation of the kingdom, but to get on with their mission. The timing of Christ’s return is not to be their concern.
Christ Himself doesn’t even know the day or the hour of his return (Mark 13:32)! And yet, you can visit the Rapture Index online in order to discover just how imminent his return is. Various end time components are tracked and rated. The total score determines whether we should relax or strap on our seat belts. This is not a parody!
Churches across the nation have their eyes fixed on the nation of Israel because they assume the activity taking place there is in direct fulfillment of prophetic passages in both the Old and New Testament. And it’s easy to point the finger at men like Harold Camping or Chuck Smith who made predictions of Christ’s return that never came true. However, even the Westminster divines were capable of speculating about the timing of the end. The reformed church, which includes us, is not immune to this error.
Jesus’ warning has not been well heeded throughout the history of the church. Even this week, with the SCOTUS ruling, many on social media are quick to declare this to be the end of the world. One comment literally read, “I’m watching the sky. I’m sure Christ is coming any day.”
Calvin says it well, “Where God has made an end of teaching, we must make an end of learning.” Deut. 29:29a, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God…”
God has sovereignly ordained his saving plan to unfold in history. And that plan of salvation is not distinct for National Israel. A single plan encompasses all the people of God.
V.8 – This is really the theme verse of the book. The apostles are to be Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem (1-7), Judea and Samaria (8-12), and to “the ends of the earth” (12-28).
“Power” occurs ten times in reference to miracles and enablement (word and deed). Power for bold proclamation and power to perform miracles that confirm their message. This power will come on the day of Pentecost.
We should also point out the inward, renovating work of the Spirit. The Spirit converts dead hearts in conjunction with the preached word.
The power is upon the apostles to be witnesses to the person and work of Christ. The Spirit makes their words effectual for transformation.
“Witnesses” has Old Testament roots (Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6-7; Isa. 43:10-12; 44:8-9). In the New Testament there is a connection to role of witnesses in the legal process (Mt. 18:16), but they are also frequently associated with church activity (2 Cor. 13:1; 1 Tim. 5:19). Luke is suggesting that they had objective experience (Acts 1:22) and they were qualified to testify.
“End of the earth” Based upon the progression and conclusion of Acts it is most likely referring to Rome. Isaiah 49:6 is probably in view, “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” The Kingdom of God would broaden in its geographic and ethnic scope.
The mission extends across every geographic, ethnic, and language barrier! We don’t lose our cultural distinctiveness in the process, but we our diversity reflects the image and glory of God on a grander scale.
In summary: speculation about Christ’s return should be replaced with devotion to Christ’s mission.
The multiple errors of the apostles serves as a reminder to be patient with those who are still learning even some of the most basic and fundamental Christian doctrines.
Although this was their last question of Jesus, it is important to note that we really don’t see them hesitant to move on from that false understanding. From here forward they devote themselves to the proclamation of God’s world encompassing kingdom. This question is the last vestige of their misunderstanding. The rest of the book is their faithful response to Christ’s commission.
All of this expresses the centrality of equipping by the Spirit for mission. Mission is the essence of the church. Modern Christians bear witness by pointing others to the apostolic testimony.
Why did Christianity spread so rapidly? The primary reason was because everyone considered themselves responsible to bear witness to Christ. The commission was not purely for the apostles. Our eyes should be fixed on mission. That is our present task.
Christ’s final commission of the apostles was immediately followed by His ascension.
Christ’s Ascension (9-11)
V.9 As the resurrection vindicated Christ’s teaching, the ascension placed him in a position of authority. He has redemptive authority now and future authority for the day of judgment.
The ascension is depicted as a historical event. The apostles visibly witnessed it. It pressed upon the disciples a lasting vision of the heavenly glory of God.
There is a close connection between the commission they received and the ascension they witnessed. Although Jesus is ascending bodily he is still present with his disciples in the Holy Spirit. Again, as was mentioned last week: Just as Elisha witnessed Elijah’s being taken up and carrying on the mission in the spirit of Elijah, so the apostles witnessed the ascension of Jesus and then carried on His mission by His Spirit.
V.10 The two men are clearly meant to be understood as angelic beings. Angels were present at each pivotal event in the life of Jesus Christ (Incarnation Lk. 2:8-14; Resurrection Lk. 24:4-5; and Ascension Acts 1:10).
Their response provides assurance as well as rebuke. Just as the angels did to the women at the tomb, the angels’ words serve to both admonish and help.
Luke evokes the two witness motif we first see in the Old Testament. “Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established,” (Deut. 19:15).
V.11 Again we see a rebuke followed by a promise. This time the promise is that Christ will return after the same pattern that he left. The apostles were not to expect his immediate return as they might have grown accustomed to over the past forty days of appearances. Rather they should focus on fulfilling the commission he had just given them.
Jesus was “taken up” into heaven. A.A. Hodge points out that this temporary location is “a definite portion of space where God specially manifests his presence.”
Jesus will come again in a way that is patterned after his ascension. Both the resurrection and ascension were visible, historical events. Both displayed his glory and power.
The cloud that takes Christ away is represented throughout Scripture as the glory of God (Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10-11; 1 Thes. 4:13-18). The cloud is present in the Old Testament resting upon the tabernacle, with Moses on top of Mt. Sinai, leading the people of Israel during their wilderness wandering, and also upon the temple.
Daniel 7:13-15 provides a prophetic picture of Jesus’ ascension from the heavenly perspective. The “Son of Man” comes before the “Ancient of Days” riding upon a cloud and receives everlasting dominion. The cloud is a sign of God’s heavenly glory.
We see the cloud motif again in the New Testament at Christ’s transfiguration and now at His ascension. We will see clouds again at Christ’s return (Rev. 1:7; Lk. 21:27). His return is something the apostles would look forward to, but it also hints at the unfinished work of Christ’s judgment.
Guy Waters writes,
“The return of Christ in judgment at the end of the age is the single great expectation of the church. The angels do not chart an elaborate sequence of events lying in the church’s future. They point the apostles and us to the single great event of Jesus’ return.”
We are to engage in mission because Jesus’ return is certain. The Westminster Larger Catechism Question 53 provides a list of benefits for Jesus and believers because of the ascension.
Ascension for Jesus: He is assuming a place of residence until his return. It is a royal ascension in which he now sits upon a heavenly throne. “Rabbi” John Duncan says, “The dust of Adam sits on the throne of God.” Dust from the earth resides in some physical place in the universe that the bible calls the “right hand of the Father.” And it is from this vantage point where he intercedes on our behalf!
Ascension for believers: We know that Jesus is on his throne. His reign gives the church confidence to serve him in this present, evil age. We know that Jesus is coming back. We know that will share in his glory. We know that we will remain with him. The indwelling Holy Spirit is a foretaste of all these promises.
Have you caught the vision for the grand mission of the church?
Conclusion
The apostles made two opposite errors:
- Hoping for political power (earthly)
- Gazing up into the sky (heavenly)
If you are anything like me, you want to have all of your questions answered before you are willing to move forward. We have immediate concerns we want to address before we can take on the broader mission of the church. We want to figure out how to solve all of our own family’s concerns before we can tackle the concerns of the church community (local & global).
Christ’s commission and ascension is a call to look beyond ourselves. It is a call to take up a mission that is much greater than our immediate concerns, and the concerns of our small community. It is a call to unite with the church universal in a mission that only God has the power to accomplish!
When that greater mission becomes our focus we won’t fight over who is in charge of the snacks! We won’t bicker about the color of the carpet or whether or not we should use a projector in the Worship Service.
When we are united as Christ’s witnesses we are willing to contribute our money, talents, and time to further his mission! We are willing to make sacrifices to our own preferences because we know the vision is grander than any of us can imagine.
This is precisely what we will see the early church doing at the end of chapter two. But we don’t have to wait until we get their in our series to begin putting it into practice.
How do we do this? We don’t just simply decide we are going to set aside our personal agendas. We don’t just decide we’re going to be humble from this day forward.
Our obedience, as the text indicates, is dependent upon our being convinced that we will be more satisfied being a small part of the Great Mission, than being a large part of our own personal mission.
I can’t tell you what precisely that means for you personally, but I can very plainly invite you to be a part of the church’s mission to be Christ’s witnesses in Clovis, and in the United States, and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus Christ is returning, but in the meantime we have a mission to accomplish. If we belong to Christ, then we have already been empowered and enabled by the Holy Spirit to carry out that mission. So let us move forward in the confidence He has provided!