Tonight, we will be completing our journey through Luke’s Gospel with a reading of Luke 24 and Acts 1:1-11. Next week, we begin Richard Beck’s book Reviving Old Scratch.
The Ascension in Luke:
In Luke’s Gospel account, he condenses everything from the Resurrection to the Ascension into one day. Jesus appeared to the women at the tomb in the morning. That same day, he walked to the village of Emmaus with Cleopas and his companion, where he disclosed himself in the breaking of the bread. “At that very hour,” the two men run back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples what happened, and Jesus appears among them. Jesus then leads them all out to Bethany, blesses them, and ascends into heaven. Jesus’s only instruction to the disciples was to stay in Jerusalem until they “are clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension in Acts:
The Book of Acts is volume two of Luke’s work and is likewise addressed to Theophilus. Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1:1. In Acts, Luke writes that Jesus appeared to the disciples for forty (40) days and spoke with them. Unfortunately, Luke does not tell us the specifics of what Jesus spoke with them about. The only two general topics were the Kingdom of God and the Spirit of God, the latter of which was to come soon.
Luke records that the disciples asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the Kingdom of Israel?” John Calvin comments, “There are as many errors in this question as words.” The disciples are still looking for a geographic, ethnic-based regime that will immediately take earthly power. Their messiah lives; therefore, their hope of political revolution lives as well.
Jesus responds to the question with, “It is not for you to know the chronos (sequential, quantitative, chronological time) or kairos (qualitative, opportunistic time) which the Father has fixed by his own authority.” v.7. In other words, the disciples must curb their inquisitiveness and be willing to remain in ignorance as to when all things would be fulfilled. However, under the power and guidance of the Spirit, they are to be witnesses of God’s unfolding Kingdom throughout the world. Jesus’s answer does not directly contradict the disciples ‘ question, but he leaves it to the Spirit to later correct the disciples’ misunderstandings. See, John 14:26.
Jesus’s final instruction to the disciples is that they are to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and to the ends of the earth. See, Matt. 28:19. He then ascends into heaven with the disciples staring up into the clouds. Two angels appear and tell the disciples to quit staring. In other words, the angelic message is that the disciples are to quit looking for Jesus in the heavens and get to work preparing to be his witnesses in the world.
Dinner is at 6. The menu is spaghetti and meatballs, ala Kim Perl. Discussion about 6:45. Compline at 8. Hope to see you here!
Concerning now the chronos and the kairos (of Jesus’s return), brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you, for you know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2