Calvin Synod Herald, 2017 (118. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2017-05-01 / 5-6. szám

CALVIN SYNOD HERALD

5

ministering at the right hand of God.

In the book of Acts 7, we read about Stephen, the first Christian martyr. As he was on trial before the Sanhedrin, the Bible says, “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look, ’ he said, 7 see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. ’At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ” (Acts 7:55-58)

That same Saul had his own encounter with the risen and ascended Christ. The Bible says, “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked. T am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’” (Acts 9:3-6)

About seventy years later, the apostle John was on the island of Patmos, exiled by the Roman authorities, when Jesus the resurrected and ascended Christ appeared to him. the Bible says, “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet...I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man, ’ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp doubleedged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And 1 hold the keys of death and Hades. (Rev. 1:10, 12-18)

So we see from these verses that the ascended Christ is very much alive and active. He is busy standing beside his followers as they face trouble and persecution. He is busy calling people into ministry, and He is busy inspecting His churches.

The final reason the ascension was an absolute necessity was the fact of His return. Jesus could not return if He never left. Before their very eyes that day, Jesus began lifting into heaven in a way that may be described as dignified and majestic. No whirlwind came along and swept Him away like happened with Elijah. Rather, as He ascended, a cloud appeared and hid Jesus from their gaze. That cloud might well have reminded them of the cloud that

enveloped them during the transfiguration, or the cloud that led the nation of Israel in the wilderness in the OT, or the cloud of God’s glory that filled the temple (1 Kgs. 8). But unlike the transformation, where Jesus remained after the cloud disappeared, in the ascension, Jesus did not remain after the cloud hid Him. There the disciples stood intently gazing into the sky, when they were interrupted by two men standing beside them. It was obvious they were angels because of their white garments, and their knowledge.

“ 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. ”’ (Acts 1:11)

The rebuke of the angels is a bit humorous - “Why are you standing around staring into the sky?” In so many words, they said, “Yes, Jesus is going to come back the same way you saw him go, but not right now, not today, so get to work.”

So the ascension testifies to the fact of our Lord’s return. “He will come back.” The disciples were not told that they themselves would see the coming again of Christ. The time is left open and it is futile and foolish to speculate as to when it will come. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and He will come back to take us to be with Him. That is His promise to us in John 14:1-3.

Conclusion:

So here we find ourselves some 2000 years after the promises of Jesus and His ascension to heaven, and we are still waiting for His return. But unlike those early disciples, we are not just standing idly gazing into the sky, we are busy at work for our Lord. Several of the parables of Jesus point out the importance of carrying out the will of our Master in His absence. We must not be caught by surprise when He returns. The Gospel of Matthew 24:46 says, “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ”

Jesus will say, “Well done my good and faithful servant...come and share in your master’s happiness.” (Mt. 25:21)

The key here is not perfection, but faithfulness; good stewardship. God is pleased when we are busy employing our gifts and talents in the administration of His grace. God is pleased when we make good choices as we invest our time and our finances for kingdom purposes. And God is pleased when we love one another as He loved us, and as we love our neighbor as ourselves. But I know it is not easy. I know that the battle is tough. I know that overcoming temptation is difficult - I give into it far too often myself. I know that many are facing the weariness of all kinds of troubles - disease and death, conflict and strife, layoffs and mounting bills.

Let’s pay close attention to those around us who might be struggling this holiday season.