Jesus and his disciples are gathered on the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem. He's given them his final instructions to do all that he has taught them and that he will send the Holy Spirit to empower them to go and tell others the good news of His Father's Kingdom. And, while He is blessing them ... whoosh! ... he's carried into heaven! WOW! Was it like Elijah being whisked away by chariots of fire? (Which BTW according to Allen Ross are angels.) Had the angels been hovering in the heavens, dancing on pins and needles, anxiously waiting for Jesus's sign? OK! It's finished! Take me home!
We know the angels were close by because two of them show up to razz the disciples. This is the funny part: When Jesus is taken into heaven, the disciples stand around looking up into the air ... almost like, "Where'd he go? Is he behind that cloud?" Suddenly, the angels are with them ... possibly shaking their heads thinking ... "When are these guys gonna get it?" But, being the messengers of God they only say what God tells them to say, "What are you guys lookin' at? What are you doing standing around? You saw it right. We carried him to heaven and he'll come back ... the same way!" OK, my translation. What the angels said, awakened the disciples to head back to Jerusalem, walking and leaping and praising God ... then to wait for God to send the Holy Spirit, the promise of Jesus.
We now wait with the disciples ... to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit 10 days from now on Pentecost. For these 10 days why not meditate and give praise for the Ascension of Jesus to the Father? Give praise and thanks to God that Jesus' ascension ...
1. Fulfills Jesus' promise to return to the Father. Add to that ... Jesus did all that he said he would. He has never broken a word of it.
2. Fulfills Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit. As believers in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit lives within us to empower us, strengthen us, lead us, teach us, guide us, comfort us, help us to spread the Good News of God's Kingdom.
3. Fulfills Jesus' promise to reign as King over all that is seen and unseen. He has defeated the Prince of Darkness and we live in a glorious inheritance of immeasurable greatness of His power.
4. Fulfills Jesus' promise to bring hope and peace to this world. He has put on his apparel and girded himself with strength. He is the eternal King who makes our world sure, safe, secure, unshakable.
5. Fulfills Jesus' promise to be with us to the end of the age ... and into eternity. He is our hope for today and tomorrow and forever. He is always ... ALWAYS ... with us.
What joy is ours because Jesus ascended to our Father in heaven and sits in authority over this world. How completely amazing that it is there that He prays for us! From now until Pentecost go to your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world ... and tell others of this Good News of Great Joy!
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