Why, indeed... by Gary Rose

As I look at this picture, my eyes are drawn upward. In fact, I can't help but look upward because that is the intent of the photographer. Whether it is the result of a special camera lense, or the formation and color of the clouds, I do not know. My eyes become fixed and that's that.

This reminds me of a portion of Scripture from the book of Acts...

Acts, Chapter 1 (World English Bible)

  ¹ The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach,  ² until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.  ³ To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and speaking about God’s Kingdom.  ⁴ Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me.   ⁵  For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 

  ⁶ Therefore when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you now restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

  ⁷ He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.  ⁸  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” 

  ⁹ When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.  ¹⁰ While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing,  ¹¹ who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? (emp. added vs. 11b) This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky, will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.” 

From birth to ascension, Jesus commanded attention. And with good reason: Jesus was different. He lived to serve, enlighten and save. He was the nobody who will change everyone who is willing to change. So, the question: "..why do you stand looking into the sky"?

No one knows, but I think that perhaps that those present were expecting Jesus to do something right away. The two men in white clothing (probably angels) merely confirmed what Jesus had already said (see Matthew 24:30f., Matthew 26:64).

The only thing is- Jesus did not say WHEN his return would be. So, it is only natural to keep looking up. And I will!!!!