耶稣升天时，祂在地上的工作只不过是刚刚开始而已。
使徒行传记载初代教会的故事。作为路加福音的续集（比较一下路加福音 1:3-4和使徒行传 1:1-2），使徒行传告诉我们，跟随升了天的耶稣是什么意思。这卷书以一个出人意料之外的细节开始：“前书”－就是路加福音－只告诉我们耶稣开头一切所行所教训的。
那么，耶稣升天之后发生了什么事呢？使徒行传让我们看到，耶稣的跟随者依照耶稣以前所行所教训的，来继续祂的事工；或者，更准确说，耶稣藉着祂的门徒，继续去行和教训这些事情。
这是一个多么奇妙的演变啊！耶稣并没有撇下跟随祂的人，祂继续以祂的能力在他们身上作工，藉着他们去教导、赦免、挽回、和医病。尽管祂的门徒仍未能完全明白神的国的真正意义，祂却藉着圣灵来成就这一切。
我们应该谦卑下来，因为神的国不是由我们造出来的。我们也应该因此受到激励和感到兴奋，因为今天耶稣仍然藉着我们作工，去见证祂的慈爱、公正、和怜悯。
在今天，留意耶稣怎样继续在我们身上和在我们周围作工吧。
主耶稣，我们为你在世上所作的工感谢你。你虽在天上作王，但你的事工仍然继续下去，我们感谢你。求你装备我们，去为你作见证，又归荣耀与父。阿们。
使徒行传 1:1-8
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。”
“You will be my witnesses...” - Acts 1:8
When Jesus ascended into heaven, his work here on earth had only just begun.
The book of Acts records the story of the early church. But as a companion volume to the gospel of Luke (compare Luke 1:3-4 with Acts 1:1-2), Acts tells the story of what it means to be a follower of Jesus after the ascension. And it opens with a surprising detail: the “former book”—that is, the gospel of Luke—tells us only what Jesus began to do and teach.
So what happened after the ascension? Well, the book of Acts shows that Jesus’ followers went on doing and teaching the things Jesus did and taught. Or, rather, Jesus went on doing and teaching these things by working through his disciples.
What an amazing outcome! Jesus did not leave his followers alone. He continued to use his power working through them to teach, forgive, restore, and heal. And he did all this through the Holy Spirit even when his disciples didn’t fully understand what the kingdom was all about.
This should humble us, for God’s kingdom is not something we can arrange into existence. And this should encourage and excite us, since it means that Jesus continues to work through us even today, to be witnesses of his love, justice, and mercy.
Watch today for Jesus’ continuing work in and around you.
Lord Jesus, thank you for the work you are doing on this earth. Thank you that your work continues as you reign in heaven. Equip us as your witnesses, to the Father’s glory. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
