Acts 1:6-14 (NRSV)
Read Acts 1:6-14 on biblegateway.com
Verse 6So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" Verse 7He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. Verse 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Verse 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. Verse 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. Verse 11They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Verse 12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. Verse 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. Verse 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Devotion
One Sunday in my preschool days, I asked my mother, "Couldn't we get in our car and drive to heaven?" My Sunday school teacher had helped make Jesus and heaven real to me. Each student had a picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, holding a little lamb in his arms. Each Sunday, another little lamb was pasted on the border of the picture. I knew I was that little lamb in Jesus' arms. As a youth, it was the story of Jesus and the repentant thief on the cross that especially grabbed me. I felt that Jesus was speaking those words to me. "Today, you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
The Ascension of Jesus, which we will observe on Thursday of this week, celebrates Jesus' finished work for our salvation and our unfinished task as witnesses (Acts 1:8). And yes, on this Memorial Day, we pause to say "Takk for Alt" (Norwegian) to our veterans—"Thanks for everything."
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank you for making Jesus and heaven real to me and for those who were your witnesses to God’s work of salvation for us in Jesus. Strengthen me to help make Jesus and heaven real to those I encounter this week. Amen.