9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Acts 1:9-11 (NLT) 中文

On location

Jesus has commissioned His disciples to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). And in the previous passage, He has commanded them to be witnesses of His life, death and resurrection throughout the world through the power of the Holy Spirit who will soon come. 

Where are they now? Back in Jerusalem. In particular, at the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile from the city as we’ll see in the next passage. It’s the same place He prayed for The Father’s will to be done (Garden of Gethsemene) and where He was arrested. 

What ‘Chu Lookin’ At?

Right after He finishes His discourse, Jesus ascends into Heaven. Two (we assume) angels then appear and ask them, “What ‘Chu Lookin’ At!?” They, of course, are not as amazed as the apostles. It’s almost as if they are saying, “Why are you standing around, get to work!” Luke is repeating what he wrote in Luke 24:50-53. In that passage, we see the disciples worshiped then returned with rejoicing to the city.

What purpose does the ascension hold? “The ascension is a visible demonstration for the apostles marking the end of Jesus’s earthly ministry, and his transition to his heavenly ministry as he reigns at the right hand of the Father in anticipation of the consummation of the kingdom at his return (cf. 2:2, 5, 33–34; 3:21).” (TGC)

Coming back

Why is it important to know where they are? Because this is the very place He will return to, and in the same way. When Jesus comes back to earth, as is prophesied in Zechariah 14:4 on the Day of the Lord, it will be to the Mt. of Olives. Those of us who follow Him and die before He returns will have “front row seats” to this amazing future event!

RЯeflection

• Are you ready for the return of Jesus? Nobody knows when it will occur. The Bible, even Jesus Himself, has provided signs we can look for. Some think the time is imminent based on current events as of this writing. But we need to be ready as Jesus talked about in the parables like the parable of the 10 virgins. 
• If you’re not even thinking about the return of Christ, we encourage you to take it seriously. The Bible is very clear about the end times and His return as a key component of that. It can help us keep our focus on Heaven – where we should be laying up treasure for ourselves. (Matthew 6:19-21)