Luke the physician wrote how Jesus' disciples watched Him as, “he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel”, and in chapter one and verse eleven of the book of Acts Luke wrote how the two men in white apparel asked Jesus' disciples, “why stand you gazing up into heaven?” where we read:
Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.
The verse begins, “Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven?” Luke began with the words, “which also said” which means “who even so and indeed uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “you men of Galilee” or “you, disciples of Jesus, male and female human beings belonging to the area known as Galilee which refers to the natives of the area of Galilee in Israel”, “why stand you gazing up” which means “for what reason and cause are you, disciples of Jesus, standing upon your feet and looking, considering and fixing your eyes upwardly” “into heaven” or “into the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced”? Luke shared how the “two men” or “angels” asked the disciples of Jesus to give a reason for why they were “earnestly looking” toward the sky.
The verse goes on to say, “this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.” Luke continued with the words, “this same Jesus” or “the selfsame Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”, “which is taken up from you” which means “who is raised and received apart from you, disciples of Jesus” “into heaven” or “to the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced and to the region above the sidereal heavens which is the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “shall so come in like manner” which means “will even so and indeed arise, appear and show Himself in the same way, fashion and deportment” “as you have seen him go into heaven” or “like you, disciples of Jesus, have observed, noticed and beheld him, Jesus, depart and leave into the aerial heavens or sky, the region where the clouds and the tempests gather, and where thunder and lightning are produced and to the region above the sidereal heavens which is the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. Luke shared how the “two men” or “angels” told His disciples that He would return in the same way that they “saw” Him go into the sky and Heavenly region.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn about the promise of Jesus' return. The “two men” or “angels” who appeared alongside Jesus' disciples, questioned them about their reason for continuing their “gaze” into the sky because Jesus was going to come back in the same manner that He left. Jesus will return to the earth, and those who are looking for Him will see His appearance. Jesus returned to Heaven for a season, but He is coming again and He will receive everyone who has put their faith and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Let all who read these words receive Jesus and be looking steadfastly for His return even as the “two men” promised He would.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus' disciples, “returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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