This Same Jesus

While they watched. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up” (Acts 1:9).

They saw it. The disciples did not hear about this from someone else. They were standing there, and they watched Jesus go.

A cloud. “And a cloud received Him out of their sight” (1:9). The cloud took Jesus from their view.

God's glory. Many Christians see the cloud as a sign of God's glory, like the cloud at the tabernacle: “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34).

Looking up. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up” (Acts 1:10). They kept their eyes on the sky, looking where Jesus had gone.

Received up. Mark's Gospel says, “He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). Jesus took His place beside His Father.

He had told them. Before the cross Jesus said, “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father” (John 16:28).

Down and back up. Jesus came from the Father to live with us, to die for our sins and to rise again. Then He went back to His Father.

A reason to be glad. Jesus had said, “If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father’” (John 14:28). His going was good news.

The same body. Jesus went up in the same body that had risen from the grave. He did not stop being the Man who walked with His friends.

Not far from us. Jesus is “a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14). He knows and loves His people, and He hears them when they pray.

What this means for you. The disciples watched Jesus go to the Father. He went there alive, after dying for your sins. You can trust Him and talk to Him today.

Two men in white. As the disciples looked up, “behold, two men stood by them in white apparel” (Acts 1:10). Most likely these were angels sent by God.

A question. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” (1:11). The disciples were still staring at the sky.

This same Jesus. “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven” (1:11). The One who will come back is not someone new. He is the same Jesus who loved them, died for their sins and rose again.

In the same way. He “will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (1:11). Jesus went up really and openly. He will come back really and openly.

An earlier question. Before He went up, the disciples asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6). They wanted to know when.

Not for you to know. Jesus answered, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority” (1:7). God has not told us the day. No one should try to guess it.

Work to do. Instead of a date, Jesus gave them a job. They would be His witnesses, telling people everywhere about Him (Acts 1:8).

They went back. “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet” (1:12). They stopped staring at the sky and did what Jesus had told them.

Waiting the right way. Waiting for Jesus does not mean standing still and staring. It means trusting Him, obeying Him, praying and telling others about Him.

The same love. The Jesus who will come back is the Jesus who lifted up His hands and blessed His friends. His people do not need to be afraid of His coming.

Ready by trusting. The way to be ready for Jesus is to trust Him now. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

What this means for you. Jesus will come back. You do not know the day, and you do not need to. Trust Him today, and live for Him while you wait.