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Caught Looking

“ And while they looked stedfastly* toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
 Acts 1:10-11



Jesus had prepared His disciples for His death by telling them repeatedly that it would happen (cf. Lk. 13:33; Mt. 16:21; Mt. 17:22; Mark 8:31). He had prepared them for His resurrection (Mt. 26:32; Jn. 2:19ff). The disciples did not always realize this right away, though. They fled when Christ was arrested. Peter denied him. They went fishing after His death without a full understanding of what would happen. Take account of what has happened and what is about to happen.

Jesus has died, been buried, and has arisen from the grave. He walked among them 40 days (Acts 1:3), and now He had ascended to the sky leaving them behind on earth. Second, Jesus had also told them that when He left, they had a mission. First a helper, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come (Jn 16:13).” Next, they would carry the Message! Jesus commanded, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matt 28:19-20).

After hearing and seeing these things come to place, the disciples needed to act. I am sure it was quite amazing to see all that they had seen, but two men clad in white apparel asked the question that we must ask ourselves even today in this place: What business do we have staring at the sky when people are perishing by our side? Jesus will return in like-fashion one day. Let us always live, love, and teach like someone’s soul depends on it; simply because it does.

Grace and Peace,
 Ryan

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