The Ascension of Jesus
(40 days after the Resurrection)
He appeared:
To Mary
To two guys on the Emmaus road
To the Disciples on Easter Night
To Thomas a week later
To seven Disciples one morning who didn’t catch any fish
To Peter and the twelve
To 500 people at one time
To James and all the Apostles
To Paul on the road to Damascus
- After the Ascension
What Did Jesus Talk About for 40 Days?
“After his suffering, [after the crucifixion] 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.”
-Acts 1:3+
“He was taken up before their very eyes,
and a CLOUD hid him from their sight.”
- Acts 1:9
“He was taken up and a
CLOUD received him from their eyes.” (v. 9)
The cloud in the Old Testament represented the
“Presence of God”.
“The Law of First Mention”
Genesis 9:12-16
“God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the CLOUDS, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring CLOUDS over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind.
Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the CLOUDS, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind
on the earth.”
Exodus 13:21,22
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of CLOUD to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. 22 Neither the pillar of CLOUD by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
Luke 24:50+
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”
Acts 1:10
“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 [longingly] into the sky?”
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You believe in God; believe also in me.
2 My Father’s house [HEAVEN] has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there [ASCENSION] to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go [ASCENSION] and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” [HEAVEN]
“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.”
WHAT DO YOU LOOK LONGINGLY FOR?
Who needs to interrupt you and ask you the question that the angels asked the disciples?
God is continually using people and circumstances to redirect our attention to God and what he is trying to accomplish in our lives.
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely
I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
You have authority and power.
Your very “going” and living the Christian life will have effect upon others.
You have heard it said that;
“Actions speak louder than words.”
That is true.
It is also true that;
“Actions speak even louder WITH words.”
Jesus said, “teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you.”
“I am with you always”