After Easter – The Ascension

Just you wait and see!

After the thrill of seeing the risen Jesus for five weeks there was a sense of impeding change coming. It was evident He would not always be with them. Many references during His ministry and in the days following the resurrection prepared them for the fact that He would be going away. However, it was urgent that He gave them instructions before His departure.

On a hillside outside of Jerusalem, Jesus met His disciples and instructed them to return to the city and wait to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. Luke said, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (24:49). In his account in the book of Acts he gives more detail, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

One of the most significant events in history would soon take place. All the planning and preparation of the ages brought Christ to the world to fulfill His purpose. Now it was His intention to leave so that He may return in the form of the Spirit to dwell in His believers, enabling them to do the work He had called them to do.

The clarion call of the commission rang in the ears of the disciples. The divine imperative was to send them into the entire world declaring the good news of Jesus Christ. However, first things first, they were instructed to wait! Before launching an international evangelistic effort they were to tarry in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting on a promise. It wasn’t just a moment or even a matter of hours. It was days, an entire week of waiting for the promised event.

Over five hundred witnesses watched Jesus ascend into the clouds. Their mouths agape, their eyes were bright. They had never seen such a sight. While they stood there staring into the heavens, two angelic messengers appeared to them and gave the final promise of Jesus’ life on earth. “Just like He went away, He’ll be returning someday.” The disciples made their way back to Jerusalem in obedience to the Lord’s command. It was time to wait. However, not all obeyed. Out of five hundred witnesses, there were only one hundred twenty in the upper room waiting when the Spirit visited a week later. But, those who waited were the first to receive this miraculous promise, the baptism of the Holy Spirit! Now they were equipped to go!

In all of our efforts to do the work of the ministry we must not forget the Apostolic pattern. Wait until you are empowered by the Spirit, then go! It is essential that we are baptized with the Holy Spirit power before we can be effective in any kind of ministry.