A Mighty Miracle On Mount Olivet

A MIGHTY MIRACLE ON MOUNT OLIVET

ACTS 1:9-12

When I was a boy I used to read Superman comic books. I remember when superman would fly up into the sky, he would say up , up and away. Of course that was not reality. But in our text, we see reality, actual history, when Jesus went back to Heaven.

I believe one the greatest miracles in the life of Christ is the miracle of his ascension. The Bible says while in the presence of his disciples , he deified gravity and ascended form planet earth to Heaven. He didn’t have rocket power, but He had God power.

Some say such a thing is not possible. But may I remind you that planes that weighs more than five tons can lift off a runway and fly. Well if man can engineer such a thing, cannot God lift the Body of His Son into Glory. I believe so. ***

I-NOTICE THE ASCENSION THAT IS SHOWN: 9

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

There have been some moving departures in history. I think about Lou Gerig’s

final speech and departure from the New York Yankees. As I have watched it on the old movie- tone news, I saw that it was an emotional departure. It was a moving experience, as I watched on TV and saw President Nixon and his wife leave the White house for the final time after his resignation in a helicopter.

But oh what a moving departure when Jesus left this earth. When he came into this world, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but when He left, He was wrapped in Glory Clouds.

A-We See The Prophecy Of His Ascension:

John 6:62-What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

7:33-Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.

There are two miracles in the OT that foreshows His ascension. The miracle of Enoch and Elijah leavening this earth.

Jesus didn’t need a guide or helper, for He knew where He was going. He was going Home.

B-We See The Purpose Of His Ascension:

John 16:7-Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Jesus went back to Heaven to give the Church a gift, the gift of The Holy Spirit.

I heard the parable of a King who told his royal band to go into his treasure room and fill up their instruments with the gold. The tuba player filled his instrument up with gold. The trumpet player filled his instrument with gold also. The flute player watched as they filled their instruments and said, “all this gold and here I stand with my flute.”

There are many Christians like that, they have no room in their life for fullness of the Spirit. They have room for pleasure , for business, sports, for night clubs but no room for God’s Spirit.

I remember one time during a cold winter, I ran out of gas at my home. The fan kept on blowing but it was blowing cold air. (Many Churches are like that too, blowing cold air because they have quenched the Spirit.)

C-Notice The Personality of the Ascension:

When Jesus want back to Heaven, He went back with many hats, many titles.

HIGH PREIST

Hebrews 4:14-Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Hebrews 1:3-Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

He has sat down in Heaven. You can go back to the OT, and you will never find a chair in the tabernacle, for the work of the priest was never done.

But now our High Priest , Jesus sits. Why? Because His work is done.

D. L. Moody was riding a train once to a revival when he became engaged in a conversion with a Mormon. After much discussion, Moody said, there are two letters that separate our religious belief. Yours is do, while mine is done.

INTERCESSOR:

Hebrews 7:25-Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

What a thought he is praying at this very moment in Heaven for You and I.