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Happy Ascension day! (only one day late…)

I thought this would be a perfect time to take a deep dive into the story of Jesus ascension. 

The whole story is only 6 verses long found in Acts 1:6-11. But in these 6 verses we see a lot happening. From the disciples still hoping that will Jesus restore the kingdom of Israel to a pronouncement of Jesus eventual return by two angels. 

But for today, I want to zoom in on the middle verse – verse 8:

These words are the last known words of Jesus in the flesh on earth. So, what do they tell us? 

But you will receive power

Let’s begin with the first 9 words – “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit.” It is interesting that it starts with the words “but.” This contrasts the previous part when the disciples asked if Jesus was going to now restore Israel. 

Jesus in essence replies to the disciples, no, the time has not yet come to restore Israel, but… I have a gift for you. 

A gift that will help usher in a new kingdom, the Kingdom of God here on earth. Thus, despite Jesus not restoring Israel, he does give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit gives them power. But for what purpose you may ask? 

That is answered in the second part of the verse – to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth. 

Witnesses

Jesus uses the word witnesses here. 

He does not use evangelists or persuaders but witnesses. A witness job is to simply tell the truth about what they have seen or experienced. And that was the role of the disciples and the role of us today. We are his witnesses. 

Telling the world what we have seen or experienced. 

However, the word for witnesses is an interesting one, as in Greek it is actually Martys – and can also be translated for the word martyr. Three times in the New Testament it is used for that exact meaning, including when Paul describes Stephen's death in Acts 22.

The play on words here I think is very intentional from Jesus. 

Because indeed, these disciples were not just witnesses, but nearly every one of them were martyrs. The power of the Holy Spirit was not just to be a witness, but to be a witness unto death – to the ends of the earth.

And so the disciples obeyed. And Christianity spread across the globe.

The work is not finished

But… we still have work to do.

2000 years after Jesus ascended into heaven, there are still millions of people who have not heard the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many live in difficult to reach areas, but many also live close by. For example, did you know that according to the Joshua project, there are 1.6 million people in the Netherlands who are classified as having been unreached by the Gospel. 

1.6 million people! 

In Jesus last words, he called his disciples to bring his Kingdom to earth by witnessing for him through the power of the Holy Spirit. And that is still our calling today. So I encourage you today to take up your cross and be a witness/martyr for Him. 

That the ends of the earth may know Him!

Til next time,

Be Blessed,

Aaron

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