Ascension of Jesus - Story SummarY

 Ascension of Jesus - Story Summary:
In God's plan of salvation, Jesus Christ had been
crucified for the sins of mankind, died, and rose from the
dead. Following his resurrection, he appeared many
times to his disciples.....

Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus called his 11
apostles together on the Mount of Olives, outside
Jerusalem. Still not completely understanding that
Christ's messianic mission had been spiritual and not
political, the disciples asked Jesus if he was going to
restore the kingdom to Israel. They were frustrated with
Roman oppression and may have envisioned an
overthrow of Rome. Jesus answered 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." (Acts 1:7-8, NIV)
Then Jesus was taken up, and a cloud hid him from their
sight. As the disciples were watching him ascend, two
angels dressed in white robes stood beside them and
asked why they were looking into the sky. The angels
said:
"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." (Acts 1:11, NIV)
At that, the disciples walked back to Jerusalem to the
upstairs room where they had been staying and held a
prayer meeting.
Points of Interest from the Ascension of Jesus Bible Story:
• In the Bible, a cloud is often the expression of God's
power and glory, as in the book of Exodus, when a pillar
of cloud guided the Jews in the desert.
• Earlier, Jesus had told the disciples that after he
ascended, the Holy Spirit would come down upon them
with power. At Pentecost, they received the Holy Spirit
like tongues of fire. Today, every born-again believer is
indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who gives wisdom and power
to live the Christian life.
• The command of Jesus to his followers was to be his
witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of
the earth. The gospel first spread to the Jews, then to the
Jewish/mixed race Samaritans, then to the Gentiles.
Christians have a responsibility to spread the good news
about Jesus to all who have not heard.
• Jesus' mission on earth had been accomplished. He
returned to heaven, where he had come from. He took
on a human body and will forever remain both God and
man in his glorified state.
• The angels warned that someday Jesus will return in his
glorified body, the same way he left. But instead of idly
watching for the Second Coming, we should be busy
with the work Christ assigned us.
• The ascension of Jesus is one of the accepted doctrines
of Christianity. The Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed, and
Athanasian Creed all confess that Christ ascended into
heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father.
Question for Reflection:
It is an awesome truth to realize that God himself, in the
form of the Holy Spirit, lives inside me as a believer. Am I
taking full advantage of this gift to learn more about
Jesus and to live a God-pleasing life?