And when he had said these things,, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11
Have you ever found yourself watching something with such amazement that you lingered and lingered and lingered without much thought of time? Several years ago, Tisha and I saw Phantom of the Opera in Dallas. I remember becoming so entrenched in the story and performance that I lost all track of time. Did the same thing, later, when we were at Disney World and we got to watch Cirque du Soleil one evening. It was amazingly captivating.
I wonder if that was what the disciples found themselves doing as Jesus ascended before their eyes? It had to have been an incredible thing to witness. I can just see them gazing into the heavens with their mouths wide open in wonder, like so many do who witness a space shuttle launch into the sky.
But then comes reality in an uncharacteristic way. Two angels, almost as if before Jesus has completely vanished, appear and inquire: “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” It was as if to say, “Don’t get too wrapped up here because He’s coming back!” “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him going into heaven.”
What was their point? If not careful, in all our amazement, we can lose track of reality. Jesus is coming back. He will take his kingdom and place it into the Father’s hands (1 Cor. 15:24). He will gather his own and lead them into the ultimate triumphal procession. When nailed to a cross he carried the sin debt of humanity away (Col. 2:14), but when he returns, it will be bearing the weight of no sin (Heb. 9:28).
