Jesus’ Ascension Into Heaven
May 9, 2024
(Acts 1:1-11 NIV) "In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.""
Jesus’ work on earth is complete. He now returns to his eternal glory at the right hand of the Father in heaven. But he promises to send the Holy Spirit, a promise that will be fulfilled in ten days, on Pentecost. He gives his followers work to do – to be witnesses to everything he has done for mankind. They are to tell others about the love of God as he showed it in sending his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. They are to do this right where they are – first in Jerusalem, and then wherever they go and live. That is a command given to all followers of Jesus. And he promises he will come again in the heavens. That will be the moment he comes to judge the living and the dead, a moment known only to the Father. In this Gospel, Luke tells us "Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." (Luke 24:52-53 NIV) The sadness of Good Friday was gone, replaced by joy at what God had done for mankind.
Prayer
O King of Glory, Lord of hosts, who ascended in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not comfortless, but send to us the Spirit of Truth, promised by the Father; O thou who with the Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns, ever one God, forever and ever. Amen
