Scripture Study for

Luke begins his story of the gospel’s spread with the conclusion  of the earthly ministry of Christ. In this account of the Ascension  one notices the centrality of the Holy Spirit, whose bestowal will  allow the apostles to continue Jesus’ work. This Spirit-informed  proclamation will be the way that Jesus brings about Israel’s hoped 

for restoration, yet go beyond Israel to restore all peoples. Although  the apostles did not witness the Resurrection itself, they do witness  Jesus’ ascension, confirming in their sight that Jesus is the Messiah  of God, never to die. With this witness, and the power and guidance  of the Holy Spirit, they will be equipped to be Jesus’ witnesses “to  the ends of the earth.” 

Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with a lengthy thanksgiving  for what the Father has done in Jesus Christ, culminating with the  gift of the Spirit (1:3–14). He now prays that the same Spirit will  allow them to know God. This knowledge encompasses three things:  enlightening the “eyes of the heart,” which probably has to do with  moral conduct, the heart being the seat of the will; the glorious  inheritance that awaits them; and the power of God, who raised  Christ from the dead and exalted him above all created powers  of the cosmos (see Colossians 1:16). In and because of Christ the  church experiences the life and power of God. 

Told by the women who have encountered the risen Christ to  go to Galilee to meet him (Matthew 28:10), the apostles see Jesus  for the first time since his passion. They respond with both worship  and doubt. The latter is not skepticism, but that wavering elsewhere  called being of “little faith” (6:30; 14:31). The struggle to trust  will remain in the church even after the Resurrection. Despite this  imperfect faith, Jesus sends the Eleven to the world. Although the  New Testament does not contain a fully-developed Trinitarian  doctrine, the baptismal formula assumes some form of identity  among Father, Son, and Spirit, all of whom share one “name.” The  earthly career of Emmanuel ends as it began, with the promise of  abiding presence (1:23).