Ascension: The God Who Completes (3)
It’s the Feet that Matter In Acts’ account of Jesus’ ascension we read “ as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight” (1:9). Presumably Jesus’ feet were the last part of him his apostles could see. After receiving their commission to be Jesus’ witness throughout the world, the apostles’ feet remained nailed to the ground. “T wo men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? ’” This being “rooted to the spot” characterizes the disciples’ response to moments of divine revelation in Jesus’ ministry. At his Transfiguration, Peter wants to build dwelling places so Jesus, Moses, and Elijah might remain on the mountain (presumably with the three disciples). The women at Jesus’ tomb stand transfixed looking into Jesus’ empty tomb for him. And we have just seen the apostles staring into heaven as Jesus ascended. It would be too easy to riff on such rootedness and draw lessons a...