May 14, 2026
Title: “What Happened”
Texts: Acts 1:1-11; Matthew 28:16-20
The mission was to take the good news of God’s unconditional acceptance to the entire world. The promise included both his presence with them and his assurance that he would return some time in the future. In the meantime, there was work to be done taking the message to the whole world starting in Jerusalem, and then all Judea, Samaria, and beyond. What happened? The disciples heard the assignment, watched Jesus vanish before their sight, and kept looking into the heavens thinking perhaps that if they looked long enough, he would come back. They looked so long, the angel had to bring them back to earth, ordering them to return to the city.
The record is clear: he didn’t come back. He took off for heaven and left them with a simple flow chart for world mission. According to Acts, the disciples returned to Jerusalem and locked themselves up in an upper room fearing arrest from the authorities. They stayed there for days. Because of Judas’ death, they needed a 12th disciple. So they cast lots and chose Mathias. But that’s about all they did except pray. Believe me, they prayed and prayed, still asking themselves, “What happened?”