May
20 – Bicentennial Founders’ Day Celebration & Ascension Sunday
Acts
1:1-11
·
This
is an ascension day reading when Jesus ascended to be seated at the right hand
of God, the Father.
·
Luke,
who wrote the Gospel also wrote this book.
Another title of this book could be, “The Deeds and Teaching of King
Jesus Part II.”
·
Even
though Jesus only appears in the first nine verses in this book, it is all
about Him!
·
Acts
is similar to other books of the 1st century. Unlike the Gospel of Mark, a quick read
gospel, Luke has a more in depth audience in mind.
·
Acts
is a book about the church and a book about Jesus. The key event was the resurrection of
Jesus
·
Another
key feature of this book is the presence of the Holy Spirit.
·
The
twelve disciples correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus is bringing Israel together through the
birth of the church for the sake of the world.
The disciples want to know when the time will be fulfilled. See Psalm 72 & 89 for this longing of the
Jewish people. The answer is yes and no.
Easter inaugurated the kingdom.
·
Jesus
gives the disciples a road map for how the kingdom will expand; first,
Jerusalem, then Samaria, and then to the whole earth.
·
The
word “earth” in the bible is referring to the whole cosmos, not just the planet
earth. A whole new cosmos is our
eventual home for eternity (heaven and earth together!)
·
Jesus
is lifted up (ascended) not to outer-space but to the heavenly sphere of God’s
creation. The cloud refers to the cloud
in the wilderness story of the Israelites.
It’s a sign of God’s presence!
Jesus will return when heaven and earth and made one. Jesus ascending is a parody of the ascension
of the Roman emperors. Jesus is the true
king of the world.
·
The
disciples are called to pray and worship.
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