General Halftrack, the commandant of Fort Swampy in the comic strip Beetle Bailey, is often depicted observing some ridiculous situation and declaring. “Now what?”  That could be the reaction of the disciples of Jesus at various time.

Take Peter for example. He’s out fishing and Jesus calls to him, “Follow me.” Now what? Peter follows Jesus and one day they go up on a mountain where Jesus is transfigured and seen talking to Moses and Elijah. Now what? Jesus talks about going to Jerusalem where he will be put to death. Peter rebukes him, and Jesus says to him, “Get behind me, Satan.” Now what? They have just finished the Passover dinner and are on the Mount of Olives. Peter pledges his loyalty, but Jesus says, “Tonight before the cock crows three times, you will deny me three times.” Now what? Jesus was arrested, crucified, his body laid in a tomb. Then early on Sunday morning some women report the tomb is empty and an angel has told them Jesus is risen. Now what? Peter and the other disciples sees the risen Jesus. Forty days later he takes them out to Bethany and is taken up to heaven. They are all standing, gawking up into the sky wondering, now what?

That’s the difficulty with following Jesus. You never know what might happen.

So on this Ascension day we wonder, now what? Faith is following Jesus, doing what he taught even when you don’t know how or why. Now what? Wait and see. And in the meantime believe and do.

Read Acts 1:1-9 and remember: God loves YOU (with gifts and desire)  unconditionally.

Wayne