The Day Jesus Handed Us the Mission

"You will be My witnesses?" (Ac?1:8)

After the resurrection,
Jesus did not remain
with His disciples
continuously.
But He did appear to them
on many occasions
over forty days (Ac?1:3).

He came to them,
spoke with them,
ate with them,
and opened their minds
to understand the Scriptures (Lu?24:45).

They didn't yet understand
what Jesus was preparing them for-
the moment when He would no longer
walk beside them,
but would walk
through them.

That moment arrived
on the Mount of Olives (Ac?1:12).

Jesus lifted His hands-
the same hands that
broke the bread (Mk?14:22),
touched the leper (Mk?1:41),
washed their feet (Jn?13:5),
and carried the cross (Jn?19:17).

He blessed them (Lu?24:50).
And while He blessed them,
He was taken up (Lu?24:51).

Not vanished.
Not evaporated.
Taken.
Received.
Welcomed
into the glory
He had with the Father
before the world began (Jn?17:5).

The disciples stood there,
staring into the sky (Ac?1:10)-
not because they lost Him,
but because they finally saw
what He had given them.

The mission
was now theirs.

"You will be My witnesses?" (Ac?1:8)
Because the Spirit
is coming (Ac?1:5).

The Ascension
wasn't Jesus leaving.
It was Jesus leading-
from the throne (Ep?1:20-22).
Ruling.
Reigning.
Interceding (Ro?8:34).
Sending (Jn?20:21).

And it means this:
The One who commands
the mission
is the One who empowers it.

We don't witness
for Jesus
from a distance.
We witness
with Jesus-
because He is alive,
enthroned,
and present
through His Spirit (Jn?14:16-18).

How might the Spirit lead me
to show the life of Jesus
in one conversation or moment today

What This Means to Me:
My purpose is to share
what Jesus has done in my life.

Father,
thank You
that Jesus is alive,
reigning,
and leading His mission
from heaven.
Give me courage
to step into the places
where His life
can be seen through mine.
In Jesus' name, amen.