The Faithful 120
The Ascension’s Power and the True Word Effect: Why Only 120 Stayed
Imagine Jesus rising into the sky, a cloud enveloping him as angels declare his return (Acts 1:9-11). This breathtaking moment—the ultimate manifestation of Jesus as the divine Word—should have turned every witness into a believer. Over 500 may have seen him post-resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6), possibly at this ascension, yet only 120 disciples stayed in Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 1:15, 2:1-4). Why didn’t the spectacle convert all? A parable from Jesus reveals the answer: true faith comes not from seeing the Word in action, but from hearing and reading Scripture.
The Ascension: A Divine Manifestation
In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul notes that Jesus appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection. This could include the ascension in Jerusalem, where Jesus levitated before his disciples’ eyes, and angels in white proclaimed, “This same Jesus… will come back” (Acts 1:11, NIV). As a visible embodiment of the Word—God’s message and Messiah—this “show” was staggering, evoking divine scenes like Elijah’s ascent (2 Kings 2:11). Yet, not all were convinced. Matthew 28:17 records that during a resurrection appearance, possibly to the same 500, “some doubted.” The ascension’s grandeur didn’t guarantee belief in Jesus as the Word.
Jesus’ parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) explains why. The rich man, in Hades, begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. Abraham replies, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them” (Luke 16:29). When the rich man insists a resurrection would persuade, Abraham counters, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). The true “word effect” isn’t the manifestation of divine power—like Jesus’ ascension—but the transformative power of hearing or reading Scripture.
Why Only 120 Stayed
After the ascension, 120 disciples waited 10 days in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit, as Jesus instructed (Acts 1:4-5, 1:15). This small group—apostles, Mary, Jesus’ brothers—likely knew Scripture deeply, seeing Jesus’ life, death, and ascension as its fulfillment (Luke 24:44). Their faith, rooted in hearing Moses and the Prophets, sustained them through uncertainty, unlike many of the 500+ who left.
Why did so many depart? Some faced practical barriers—Galileans or diaspora Jews couldn’t stay due to travel or work demands. But doubt was key. Many expected an earthly messiah, and Jesus’ heavenly ascent didn’t align. Without Scripture’s lens (e.g., Daniel 7:13-14), the ascension was just a spectacle, not a call to faith. As Luke 16:31 suggests, without the “word effect” of Scripture, even miracles fail to convince.
The Faithful Few
The 120’s commitment bore fruit at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered them, and Peter’s Scripture-filled sermon won 3,000 converts (Acts 2:14-41). Their faith, grounded in God’s word, made them the church’s foundation.
A Timeless Truth
The ascension showed Jesus as the Word in glory, but it didn’t win all hearts. Luke 16:31 reveals why: faith grows from hearing Scripture, not just seeing signs. The 120, transformed by the true “word effect,” carried the mission forward, proving that belief begins where the word is heard.
The Ascension: A Divine Manifestation
In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul notes that Jesus appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection. This could include the ascension in Jerusalem, where Jesus levitated before his disciples’ eyes, and angels in white proclaimed, “This same Jesus… will come back” (Acts 1:11, NIV). As a visible embodiment of the Word—God’s message and Messiah—this “show” was staggering, evoking divine scenes like Elijah’s ascent (2 Kings 2:11). Yet, not all were convinced. Matthew 28:17 records that during a resurrection appearance, possibly to the same 500, “some doubted.” The ascension’s grandeur didn’t guarantee belief in Jesus as the Word.
Jesus’ parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) explains why. The rich man, in Hades, begs Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. Abraham replies, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them” (Luke 16:29). When the rich man insists a resurrection would persuade, Abraham counters, “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). The true “word effect” isn’t the manifestation of divine power—like Jesus’ ascension—but the transformative power of hearing or reading Scripture.
Why Only 120 Stayed
After the ascension, 120 disciples waited 10 days in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit, as Jesus instructed (Acts 1:4-5, 1:15). This small group—apostles, Mary, Jesus’ brothers—likely knew Scripture deeply, seeing Jesus’ life, death, and ascension as its fulfillment (Luke 24:44). Their faith, rooted in hearing Moses and the Prophets, sustained them through uncertainty, unlike many of the 500+ who left.
Why did so many depart? Some faced practical barriers—Galileans or diaspora Jews couldn’t stay due to travel or work demands. But doubt was key. Many expected an earthly messiah, and Jesus’ heavenly ascent didn’t align. Without Scripture’s lens (e.g., Daniel 7:13-14), the ascension was just a spectacle, not a call to faith. As Luke 16:31 suggests, without the “word effect” of Scripture, even miracles fail to convince.
The Faithful Few
The 120’s commitment bore fruit at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit empowered them, and Peter’s Scripture-filled sermon won 3,000 converts (Acts 2:14-41). Their faith, grounded in God’s word, made them the church’s foundation.
A Timeless Truth
The ascension showed Jesus as the Word in glory, but it didn’t win all hearts. Luke 16:31 reveals why: faith grows from hearing Scripture, not just seeing signs. The 120, transformed by the true “word effect,” carried the mission forward, proving that belief begins where the word is heard.
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