UP and OUT

Scripture:  Acts 1
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’  So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

Observation:
 Luke's gospel closes with this story and the book of Acts opens with it.  Like brackets--this event marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another chapter in the story of God, Jesus, and the the new community of disciples.  It is a kind of coronation event.  Jesus is revealed as the true Lord of earth and heaven (not Caesar), as he rises above to the heavenly realm of God. And a graduation, too.   For the disciples must begin a new life without Jesus' physical presence and leadership, living out the radical way of love he taught them.  What will happen to this fledgling body of believers in resurrection miracles and divine justice/mercy?
There are also two promises made:  1.  He will return.  2.  The Holy Spirit is coming.

Application:
Where did he go?  No other gospel answers this question well.  After death and the grave, Jesus continues to live on.  But where?  Real history, myth, speculation---how do we receive this ascension story?  Did he literally float off to "heaven"?  And where is that?  Beyond space and time?  This is an unsolved mystery that is filled with significance and meaning for church.
Absent its founder and teacher, how will this "school of faith-active-in-love" continue? I think this is the key question.  Jesus is viewed quite early on by the faith community as a person of great authority and power.  As Lord, King, Savior, Messiah, in some deeper union with God.  This ascendency is tied to his resurrection from the dead, a miracle that vindicates and affirms his identity as the restored Son of God.  But, he does not remain present to them after some time.  He departs.  His departure marks a turn in history.  For it is after this that the church will emerge, called out of their former lives to a new way of life--the Jesus way.  They will become responsible for the perpetuation of the love revolution.
What do we take away?  Jesus handed over power to his followers. Great leaders know when to get out of the way to let others take over.  Jesus created a culture with reproducible habits and practices given away to his followers to imitate.  Then he left.  They will do what he did. The revolution will spread like wildfire out of control.  Because the message and the ministry are exactly what the world needed.  And still needs.  Mercy.  Forgiveness. Economic justice.  Shared abundance.  Servant love.  So now, its our turn.  With spiritual guidance and courage beyond ourselves, we are called out.                 
Prayer
 Lord, here we are.  Send us.  We'll do what we can.  Our neighbors need us to do so.  You command us to love like you love us.  And you love us to death, to life, from beginning to end.  More than we can imagine.  Help us to follow you UP and OUT.  Amen.