Daily Worship

LOVED INTO ACTION

Alec Shuttleworth April 04, 2016 0 0

ACTS 1: 1-12

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “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.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives,a Sabbath day’s walk[c] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Where are the shepherds?
The Heavenly Host singing peace on earth and goodwill?
Where the crowds who hear the cry of the new-born
And lift to turn their ears to the sound
Unaware of what it portends.
Where are the fevered cruelties
Of the mad king?

Jesus who crashes into our world
In a blaze of glory
Slips away quietly.
A cloud is the discrete veil
Drawn across his exit,
Leaving them to realise
Now is their time.

So now it is them
Returning to Jerusalem
Coming down from this mountaintop
Where one last time they have been urged
Asked
Loved into action

And so it is us.
Always making our way.

Lord as we come down our mountain tops
Where we have been encouraged
Instructed
Loved.

Lord, in our time
Walk with us
Be with us
Amen