[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 14/May/2023]
Next Thursday we celebrate Ascension Day, when Jesus was taken back up into heaven. Yet to the disciples, who were losing Jesus for the second time, this must have seemed like a cause for mourning rather than celebration. All their hopes had been dashed when Jesus was killed, but then he came alive again, proving that with God nothing was impossible, so surely now Jesus would establish his kingdom on earth?
In Acts 1 v 6 the disciples ask Jesus: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Instead he tells them that not even he knows when this will happen, but that the Holy Spirit will come upon them and that they will be his witnesses throughout the world.
Despite this promise, it must have been so hard for the disciples to see Jesus going away for a second time, but he sent angels to tell them: “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 v 11).
Ten days later the Holy Spirit came in power and the disciples saw miracles and mass conversions. They also had the hope that Jesus would soon return to earth. Decades later, when the believers were suffering severe persecution and Jesus had still not returned, I expect many of them were losing heart, but Peter in his second letter said: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” (2 Peter 3 v 8-10)
Two days later (or 2,000 years in our time) we are still waiting and it is so easy to become discouraged when we see the state of our world, but we need to remind ourselves that the day will come when Jesus returns in power.
Connect in Faith will have a special Ascension Day praise on 13 May, followed by Pentecost praise on 27 May. Anyone who would like to join us on *ZOOM or by phone is very welcome.
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Contributed by Helen Ruffhead; © the Author
