Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise - Read Acts 1:6-14

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause - Moved by the Promise - Read Acts 1:6 Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
9 When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold,[a] two men stood by them in white clothing, 11 who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had come in, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying; that is Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Footnotes:
a. Acts 1:10 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.(World English Bible)
One Sunday in my preschool days, I asked my mother, "Couldn't we get in our car and drive to heaven?" My Sunday school teacher had helped make Jesus and heaven real to me. Each student had a picture of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, holding a little lamb in his arms. Each Sunday, another little lamb was pasted on the border of the picture. I knew I was that little lamb in Jesus' arms. As a youth, it was the story of Jesus and the repentant thief on the cross that especially grabbed me. I felt that Jesus was speaking those words to me. "Today, you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). 
The Ascension of Jesus, which we will observe on Thursday of this week, celebrates Jesus' finished work for our salvation and our unfinished task as witnesses (Acts 1:8). And yes, on this Memorial Day, we pause to say "Takk for Alt" (Norwegian) to our veterans—"Thanks for everything."
Holy Spirit, thank you for making Jesus and heaven real to me and for those who were your witnesses to God’s work of salvation for us in Jesus. Strengthen me to help make Jesus and heaven real to those I encounter this week. Amen.
Selmer "Sam" Hatlestad
Watertown, S.D. 
Master of Divinity , 1964
Acts 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
8 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."
9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.
11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward 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."
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away.
13 When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.

14 All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.(New Revised Standard Version)
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