The Ascension

One of the most exciting and meaningful events of the Bible is the ascension of our Lord.  It is recorded in two places, Luke 24, right at the end of the book of Luke, and in Acts chapter 1.  In this blog we will take a closer look at these two passages.

First we note that the ascension, being recorded in two places only, are both written by the same author.  Luke wrote his book of Luke, but he also is the writer of the book of Acts.  In fact if the reader wanted to just read an account of the life of Jesus and the events that followed His leaving the apostles to carry on His work, just reading the books of Luke and Acts would be ideal.

Note the passage in Luke:

45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

 

Here we have the final act of Jesus on earth, His leaving.  Then we can compare this passage with the one in the book of Acts:

 

9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10They 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.”

 

We see that Jesus was very much alive upon being taken up to heaven.  It is there that He will sit at the right hand of God, and He reigns there as king until such time that He returns again in the clouds to call His people to Him.  As the king, He has a kingdom.  Note the wording of Colossians 1:13, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love."  As Christians, we have been "translated" into His kingdom.  This shows that His kingdom is in existence now, that He reigns now, in heaven, and we get to be His subjects.

 

Thank you for reading about this such special event in the history of the world.  Jesus reigns!