Disciples Watched as Jesus Ascended into Heaven

“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?’  And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.  But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” –Acts 1:6-11 (NKJV).

                Can you imagine being present with the believers on the occasion of Jesus’ ascension into heaven?  With what awe must they have been filled!  No expressions of doubt about His resurrection of His mission were expressed by those gathered on that glorious day.  We are told in Acts 1:3 that He had showed Himself “alive to them after many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.”  The place of Jesus’ ascension was the Mount of Olives outside Bethany.  I have had the privilege of visiting the site and being there was indeed “standing on holy ground” as the gospel song expresses.  In His final words to the disciples before His ascension, He reaffirmed that His kingdom was not to be as they had expected, a restoration of Israel’s kingdom, but a new kind of kingdom, spiritual and under the authority of God Himself who knows the time of fulfillment.  When the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were to be witnesses of what He began to do and to establish (the spiritual Kingdom of God) while He was upon earth.

                The ascension of Jesus was visible, victorious and authoritative.  The ascension expanded Christ’s ministry through His followers who were given the Great Commission to witness of Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and throughout the earth.  The ascension showed Jesus’ restoration to His exalted position in Heaven at the right Hand of God where His executive power is ever acting on behalf of believers everywhere.  There He also intercedes for us! (see Hebrews 7:25).    

                Jesus began to rise from their midst and visibly lift from their presence.  A cloud received Him out of their sight.  A cloud was often manifested as a visible sign of God’s presence.  The cloud by day and the fire by night had protected the Israelites after their release from Egyptian bondage.  Is it any wonder, that after seeing Jesus visibly go up and disappear into a cloud that the disciples were so rapt they could not move from the Mount of Olives?  Two men clothed in white raiment (angels) came to speak to them, asking a pointed question:  “Why do you thus stand gazing into heaven?”  And then they repeated the promise Jesus had made to them:  “As you have seen Him go into heaven, He will come again in like manner!”  The awe, amazement and wonder of the disciples must be turned to practical work to bring about the spiritual kingdom Christ had commissioned them to tell about and be involved in establishing.  The incarnation of God (Emmanuel, God with us) had been successfully accomplished in Jesus Christ the Son.  The two messengers gave the believers assurance that Jesus would indeed return as He had gone into Heaven.  This is a great motivation for Christians to be involved in service to the living, reigning, ascended Lord until his second coming.  Those gathered on the Mount of Olives to see Jesus ascend into Heaven, marvelous as the experience was, had work awaiting them.  We, too, have work to do while we await His return.  Who in your family, among your neighbors and fellow workers, those you meet from day to day need your witness about their becoming a Christian? Is God putting them in your pathway so you can witness to them?  May we be found faithful!  -Ethelene Dyer Jones  04.27.2014