What Happened?

“What Happened?”

That’s the question that the early disciples might have asked on the Day of Ascension. What Happened?

That’s the question people today’s world might ask too.

That’s the question that many of our African friends might have asked 10-12 years ago when their county descended into war, despair and violence.

We see this many places. Right now, it is apparent in Zimbabwe. They just had elections, but Robert Mugabe the president refuses to give up power.

This is a clear example of the phrase: Power Corrupts and Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.

10-20 years ago, an overthrow led to new government in Zimbabwe. Things were still basically good. But over time, greed and corruption set in.

It would be easy to say. What happened? Where did it go?

Something similar could be said abour Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda & other countries. All could say. “What Happened?

My country was stable. Beautiful, productive,

And like that….it disappeared. It vanished out of site.

So, what can we do in such a circumstance?

In the book of Acts we hear how Jesus appeared to the 12, to 500 & many others after his resurrection.

Then, he led them to the Mt. Of Olives and As he was with them…suddenly ascended into Heaven. The Disciples were left standing there, aghast, looking into Heaven.

Just then, an Angel appeared and said…What are you looking at? Go back to Jerusalem and wait for the power of the Spirit to return.

10 days later, the Day of Pentecost happened. Jesus Returned in Spirit.

The disciples probably said something similar…like…. “What Happened”. They felt a sense of loss, despair, alone-ness.

But a couple of things. An Angel came to them. Angels often turn up when we need them.

They were told to get their heads out of the clouds and go back to town.

Ministry involves going back to being engaged in life.

9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They 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.”