YE MEN OF GALILEE, WHY STAND

GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN?

A minute ago, he was real, like you and me. But he disappeared into the cloud that lifted him. He just talked with them and walked with them, and taught them.

The scene was Mount Olivet, east of the Temple of Jerusalem. Accompanying him were the disciples who stood dazed as Jesus was lifted up.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was

taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight (Acts 1: 9).

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up,

behold, two men stood by them in white apparel (1: 10);

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into

heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven,

shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven (1: 11).

Jesus the reality has given place to Jesus the Faith. He is now a person to be clung on by faith, and that is why St John begins his epistle by declaring:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which

we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our

hands have handled, of the Word of life (I John 1: 1);

We heard him, we saw him, we kept looking at him, and we have touched him, who was from the beginning and who is Eternal Life! 

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness,

and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and

was manifested unto us;) (1:2)

God’s own life was with us and we bear witness to that life.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye

also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with

the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ (1: 3).

That life invites us to have fellowship with himself and the Father.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full (1: 4).

The purpose of this fellowship is to share God’s own joy and carry it in your heart wherever you go, whatever you do, and in whatever situation you are.

That was St John’s purpose of writing the epistle.

Jesus himself invites you to this fellowship:

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in

him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do

nothing (John 15: 5).

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye

will, and it shall be done unto you (15: 7)

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye

be my disciples (15: 8).

This heavenly friendship and unity is open to all who love Jesus. Answered prayer and fruit bearing are assurances from the God of Truth. God should give you whatever you ask but you remain slack in keeping his word (deciding which commandment to obey) is a non-fruit bearing approach.

And we have assurance upon assurance by Jesus:

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep

my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto

him, and make our abode with him (14: 23).

The God of the Universe coming down to your heart to have supper with you is the mystery of Christian life. While in other religion, devotees go in search of God, Christ comes in search of man, and loves to dwell in human heart, mingling with your very life to make it divine.

But alas, disbelief in heart limits our spiritual understanding. Remember what Jesus told Nicodemus:

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye

believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (3: 12) 

Three things come to our rescue in dispelling disbelief: The Holy Spirit, The Word, and The Holy Communion.   

I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them

Now (16: 12).

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you

into all truth (16: 13)

The two disciples on way to Emmaus had a strange experience; a stranger joined them and ministered unto them the word of God.

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us,

while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the

scriptures? (24: 32)

When he broke the bread, their eyes were opened, and they knew him;

and he vanished out of their sight (24: 31).  

Understand the great significance of The Holy Communion, as Jesus himself taught his disciples:

And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve

apostles with him ( St Luke 22: 14).

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this

passover with you before I suffer (22: 15).

With such yearning desire, Jesus desired to have Communion with his disciples. With the same yearning desire, he invites you to have heavenly fellowship with him. Are you willing to have fellowship with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, or will you walk away inviting judgement?