David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 1:6, 10-11

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?

Rose is Rose, a comic strip by Don Wimmer, features the main character who is mild-mannered, sensitive, kind, and unassuming to a fault. But Rose has a biker babe alter-ego. Biker Rose is larger than life, strong, assertive, and not to be denied. The comic strip is all about perspective: Dealing with Rose, is quite a different experience from Biker Rose. Her world view is dramatically different as well.

The beginning of Acts features questions from two dramatically distinct perspectives as well. One comes from the perspective of disciples who don’t quite grasp the significance of who they’re dealing with. The other comes from two who seem to have quite a strong grasp of who Jesus is and the reality of his reign.

When the disciples ask Jesus if it was time for him to restore the kingdom to Israel, they show that they don’t really comprehend either Jesus’ true reign, or their place or ability to comprehend Jesus’ reign. They don’t know what they don’t know, and that’s a very dangerous failure of understanding. Not only do they presume upon God’s prerogative to reveal or hide his next move in the heavenly realms, they dangerously think they can comprehend the spiritual and cosmic dynamics of history.

How many times do we think we know more than we do, or that we could actually handle the weighty responsibility of knowing what tomorrow will bring!

On the other hand when the “two men” (angels, most likely) ask the disciples why they are standing there looking up into the air as Jesus ascends into heaven, they betray a heavenly perspective about Jesus’ true identity worth remembering. The disciples were amazed to see Jesus taken up into heaven. I’m with them; I’ve never seen anything like that before. And that’s the answer to the two mens’ question, “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” I have an answer for that question! I’ve never seen anything like that in my life! This is incredible; I am truly amazed. Next question?

But the angels’ question reveals a perspective just as did the disciples’ question. The disciples didn’t know what they didn’t know. The angels know what the disciples don’t know, and from their perspective the cosmos is getting back to it’s proper balance after 33 years of unbalance and a dramatic absence from the throne at the right hand of God.

While the disciples had never seen anything like Jesus’ ascension, the angels were just fine with it: Jesus was returning to his proper place as the Son of God would ascend and take his throne. He had left it to redeem the world, laying aside his divine prerogatives and glory. Having finished that work by his death on the cross, he was returning to the place of his proper glory. Perhaps they were a bit incredulous at the disciples’ lack of understanding: We [the angels] were amazed at Jesus’ earthly life and ministry. Now things are returning to their proper balance.

The question for us now is one of perspective: Do we face life believing we can understand all that happens or everything the future holds? Do we realize that Jesus is on his throne and has the world well in hand? How might those perspectives serve us well today?

Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when he was taken up, after hehad given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

⁴ And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said,“you heard from me; ⁵ for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

⁶ So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”