“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Summary: He is risen!
We are all ‘Men of Galilee’ now.
Each of us who claims Jesus as our Savior is metaphorically “looking into the sky.” Where has Jesus gone? What is he doing? When will he come for me?
These are fair questions. Sometimes, though, certain things are beyond our knowledge. I will never know what my grandparents thought the day that they left the Old Country and started their journey to America. I will never know what it was like to sail the Atlantic with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower four hundred years ago. Nor will I ever know what the voice of the angels sounded like who called out, “Men of Galilee…”
What I can know, thanks to Luke’s historical account in Acts, is what they said: “Jesus… will come back…”
He is risen! (He is risen, indeed!)
That means he is not here, but he is still alive. God, somehow divided into Father and Son, is now reunited. God is spirit (John 4: 24) while Jesus is both spirit and flesh (Luke 24: 36-53).
The men of Galilee who heard the angels promise that Jesus will return are all dead in the flesh, but their spirits are alive in Jesus. They will see his return. Even Job, who lived centuries earlier, knew this:
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. (Job 19: 25-27)
Like Job, we too will see our redeemer alive. Jesus is not slow to come, he is patient, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Application: Live every day like Jesus is watching, because he is.
Food for Thought: If Jesus comes back today, what will he be looking for his followers to be doing?
Protecting, and feeding the flock. Probably at the side of a a teaching shepherd, learning, sharing the gospel, making faithful followers of Jesus, guarding His word, and even being persecuted.
One thing about following Jesus, Tim …
… it is never boring! 🙂
Good devotion and good comment T.
For a very brief answer in a very busy morning: I hope He finds me doing His will – and T aptly described what that looks like.
He is risen!
He is risen, indeed!
Thank you brother Rich. Your work for the Lord and your stewardship are a comfort and an inspiration to us who know you.
May God continue to bless your ministry and grant you peace.
04-17-2022, Acts 1:11, If Jesus comes back today, what will he be looking for his followers to be doing?
Luke 6:43-45
For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
Bearing Fruit!
Amen brother Ron!
Happy Easter to you and yours!
Happy Easter to you and yours also brother Jeff.
Blessings, Ron
Matthew 24:42-51
This is my ditto
Thank you, A.
Being a good and faithful servant of Jesus is exactly what we are to do. 🙂