Acts 1:1-11 The Ascension Of Jesus
Verse 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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. 4 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. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 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.” 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “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.”
Last Sunday we celebrated Easter, the most important day of the Christian year, and the most joyful.
From the prophecies of a coming savior, to the birth of our Lord, to the death and resurrection, we celebrate these events as we should, but we don’t give the same attention to the ascension of our Lord. For 40 days, Jesus walked the earth after His resurrection. For 40 days, He continued to meet with and witness to many. When His final earthly message was delivered, He rose up into a cloud with a few disciples as witnesses. I’d like to look at the significance of that event and see what it tells us of the things to come. God added credence to the truth that Jesus was truly raised by allowing 40 days on earth to walk, talk, and reach out. He did these things to show that it was not a dream. He did these things to give credit to the stories that would follow
At this point, the disciples had seen numerous miracles. Jesus had healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, raised the dead and even risen from the dead! For 40 days he continued his ministry with the disciples preparing them for the things to come. He used this time to build them up and send them on their way.
But, Jesus had no intention on continuing this phase of his ministry forever. When the time was right, He chose to return to the Heavenly realm and allow the disciples to enter into their own ministry. The ascension ended Jesus ministry on earth and began the phase of the Apostles.
But, it was more than a dividing line. It also demonstrated God’s power. Jesus defeated death, then defeated gravity. Jesus showed that He was able to go beyond the normal rules that apply to men and showed the power of God. The ascension demonstrated that Jesus is still alive.
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