Ascension Day
‘But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.’ John 16:7a
Bible reading: Acts 1:1-11 (Go to the Bible passage)
After His resurrection from the death, by which Jesus was appointed the Son of God in power (Romans 1:4), Jesus presented Himself to His followers, giving many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God (:3).
There are no clear indications in the Bible, yet I believe that after His death and resurrection His speaking about the coming Kingdom was quite different from His speaking before. It probably were mostly directions for His followers how to fulfill their mission to be His witnesses here on earth, for all His speaking with them ends with: ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (:8).
These were the final words that Jesus spoke to His followers, and therefore these were His last words to us who want to serve Him, just like the disciples who were with Him in those days. ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…’
How important it is to let these words remain as they are and not adhere various theological explanations or assumptions to them.
We all know we need to receive strength from heaven, to be trustworthy witnesses of Him.
Let us therefore obey Him, let us wait for the gift the Father promised (:4), yes, let us wait for the equipment we need for the time till He comes back, in the same way the disciples have seen Him go into heaven.

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