Acts 1:10-11 - Homilies By R.a. Redford

The angels' message.

I. A REMONSTRANCE . "Why stand ye looking into heaven?"

1. Against the misuse of signs and appearances. Get at the substance of the fact, and waste no time and strength on the mere form.

2. Against prying into forbidden secrets. Indulgence of fancy in religion. Following the track of sense beyond its reach.

3. Spiritual depression and reaction. Christ is still the same. Be not afraid or perplexed, but set to work and prepare for his return.

II. AN ANNOUNCEMENT . "This Jesus shall so come."

1. A personal advent, but not necessarily pro-millennial. The chief meaning of the promise is that this world is to be prepared for the return of Christ, therefore is to be made his kingdom, so the expectation is practical.

2. The similarity of circumstances is helpful to faith. " Out of sight, " " a cloud, " " taken up ,"—such terms remind us that we must not look for mere sensible indications of the Savior's descent from heaven; but in like manner as he went away, so mysteriously that his disciples scarcely knew whether he was gone and still gazed after him, so he will appear again " with clouds, " and only imperfectly seen, until his presence shall be hailed with the shout of the archangel and the trump of God.

3. The assurance of the second advent of the Lord should be the summons to work, and the comfort of all that feel their loneliness and want in this scene of separation from their Savior's visible presence. "Till Jesus comes." The promise speaks peace to us.—R.