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And when he had said these things … He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1: 9-11
Sixty-five years ago, or so, recently married, and having neither car or driver’s license, a well-beloved “older” couple (probably 40ish, but that was old to me) often picked me up for church. On one such occasion the sky greeted us as one of those picture-perfect days without a cloud in the sky. I made the comment, “What a beautiful day for Jesus to return!”
The gentleman, Jerry, always managing a good comeback, said, “Oh He won’t come today.”
I bit. “Why? The Bible says He will return any day at a time we aren’t expecting Him.”
Jerry, tongue in cheek, replied, “He is going to return in the clouds.”
If my twenty-two year-old brain had been quicker, I may have retorted, “Of course, but there are clouds somewhere on the planet all the time.
Yes! He is coming! It may be today. “Even so, come! Lord Jesus.”
That would not have happened then, nor would we expect His soon return if it had not been for the darkest hour that ever happened.
This Easter week, as we walk through His last days we may have many mixed emotions as we attempt to form a picture in our minds of what happened:
- The ones who hoped for the Messiah, lauded Him, shouting “Hosana,” (save now!) and waving palms;
- The religious arrested Him, rejected Him, and turned Him over to Rome;
- His closest companions deserted Him;
- Rome acquiesced and traded the King of kings for a murderer; they hung Him on a cross between two thieves;
- The crowd jeered Him;
- God turned His back on Him.
But Jesus died, saying:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23: 34
When the sinless Jesus died, it was not for sins He’d done; He bore the sins of every person who ever lived, ever will live, and He bore my sins.
WHAT DID YOU DO WITH JESUS?
What did you do with Jesus?
What did you do with He who is called the Christ?
You did as did I;
You did as did all humanity;
We crucified the King of kings.
Until you come to the cross~~
The crossroads—
The Y in the road—
The U-turn—
Until you admit to standing in
The crowd—
Until you acknowledge your words:
“Crucify Him!”
The trajectory—
The careening—
Plummeting—
Is your black
Eternity
Without
Hope.
Say with the thief on the cross, “Remember me.”
Say with the centurion, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”
Until you
Realize
Repent
Receive
Each day you reject Him,
You crucify Him
Over
and
Over
And
Over.
No!
Today is the Day.
You crucified Him
As did I.
But …
HE LIVES FOR YOU
REJOICE!
by June E. Titus, 15 April 2025
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