“你为什么离开我？”
像我这样年纪的人，是会记得昔日在机场送行时，可以一直送到闸口的。对，在2001年9/11恐怖分子袭击之前，你可以目送所爱的人登机，及看着他们的班机起飞的。即使你没有这种记忆，我们都明白，与所爱的人道别的感受是如何的。
今日，每当我准备出门时，我的女儿仍然会问我这样一个问题，她望着我说：“你为什么离开我？”她小时也是这样问我的。我通常会告诉她，我要去上班，很快便会回来的。
从某角度来看，聚集在耶稣身边的门徒就像小孩子，他们只关注自己认为重要的事。“主啊，你复兴以色列国就在这时候吗？”他们的视野只限于耶稣能为他们小小的世界做什么事，然而，耶稣将要成就的，却远远超过这些事！
耶稣赐给他们一个应许（从圣灵而来的能力）、一个使命（作祂的见证），和一个异象（从耶路撒冷直到地极）。在神和祂的子民持续不断的故事中，这些门徒快要撰写新一章的历史了。
耶稣已经升到天上，在那里为我们作工，而祂也赐给我们一件改变生命和赋与生命的工作。不过，耶稣更应许祂会藉着祂的灵常与我们同在，祂是永远不会离开我们的！
亲爱的神，在我们纪念升天节耶稣返回天家时，愿我们得到激励，因为我们知道，当祂在世界各地建立祂的教会时，祂也时常与我们同在的。阿们。
使徒行传 1:1-11
1 提阿非罗啊，我已经作了前书，论到耶稣开头一切所行所教训的，
2 直到他藉着圣灵吩咐所拣选的使徒以后，被接上升的日子为止。
3 他受害之后，用许多的凭据将自己活活地显给使徒看，四十天之久向他们显现，讲说神国的事。
4 耶稣和他们聚集的时候，嘱咐他们说：“不要离开耶路撒冷，要等候父所应许的，就是你们听见我说过的。
5 约翰是用水施洗，但不多几日，你们要受圣灵的洗。”
6 他们聚集的时候，问耶稣说：“主啊，你复兴以色列国就在这时候吗？”
7 耶稣对他们说：“父凭着自己的权柄所定的时候、日期，不是你们可以知道的。
8 但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，并要在耶路撒冷、犹太全地和撒马利亚，直到地极，作我的见证。”
9 说了这话，他们正看的时候，他就被取上升，有一朵云彩把他接去，便看不见他了。
10 当他往上去，他们定睛望天的时候，忽然有两个人身穿白衣站在旁边，说：
11 “加利利人哪，你们为什么站着望天呢？这离开你们被接升天的耶稣，你们见他怎样往天上去，他还要怎样来。”
“Why You Leave Me?”
He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. — Acts 1:9
I am old enough to remember when you could walk with people right up to the departure gates at an airport. Before the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001, you could see your loved ones board a plane and watch their flight depart. But even if you don’t have that memory, we all know what it is to have to part with someone we love.
My daughter has a question that she still uses when I am headed out the door. She looks at me and says, “Why you leave me?” Her words echo the phrasing she used as a young child. Then I usually tell her I am leaving for work and will return soon.
In a way like children, the disciples who were gathered around Jesus were focused on what mattered to them. “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Their view was limited to what Jesus would do for their little corner of the world. What Jesus was about to do was so much more!
Jesus gave them a promise (power from the Holy Spirit), a mission (to be his witnesses), and a vision (from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth). The disciples were on the edge of a new chapter in the ongoing story of God and his people.
By ascending, Jesus has gone to work in heaven for us, and he has given us a task that is both life-challenging and life-giving. In addition, Jesus has promised to be with us always, by his Spirit. He will never leave us!
Dear God, as we remember Ascension Day and Jesus’ return to heaven, may we be encouraged to know that as he works to spread his church everywhere, he is also with us. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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