Lift Off!
Acts 1:1-11
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach
2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men 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.
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.
8 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."
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
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 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."
There are times when I think it would be great to be able to call God collect! Or maybe to be able to pull God aside to ask Him a few questions. Or at least, to write Him a letter. I guess we’ll have to wait until we get to heaven to have all our questions answered.
In the book, Children’s Letters to God, Eric Marshall and Stuart Hample have compiled an amusing, yet insightful scrapbook of thoughts and questions children have posed to God. For example:
Dear God,
I wrote you before. Do you remember? Well, I did what I promised, but You didn’t send me the pony yet. What about it?
Lewis
Dear God,
Do you get your angels to do all your work? Mommy says we are her angels and we have to do everything.
Love,
Maria
Dear God,
When you started the earth and put people there and all the animals and grass and stars, did you get very tired? I have a lot of other questions, too.
Very truly yours,
Sherman
Questions. Regardless of how foolish they may seem, they’re the best way to get specific answers. For example, now that Jesus has risen from the grave, what is He doing? Does He still operate within a body, or is He just a spirit? When He ascended from earth to heaven, did His position change from what it was originally? The Scriptures provide some answers. So that’s a good place to begin.
1. The Lift Off
In Acts 1:1-11, we’re told that for 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection, He remained in contact with His followers. He spoke, ate, slept, taught, encouraged, and essentially did all that He had done during His 3 ½ years with them.
But now its time for Him to head for home. Like a rocket slowly lifting off the launch pad, Jesus ascends into the clouds, leaving the awestruck disciples craning their necks, squinting for one last look as He finally disappears into the sky.
This was the 11th and last post-resurrection appearance of Christ. It was a never-to-be forgotten event. And in fact, the Church does its best to make sure we don’t forget! This is Ascension Sunday. We celebrate His lift off! Actually, it will technically be next Thursday—40 days from Easter.
There, on that day, while the Lord spoke to His followers, He raised His nail-pierced hands in blessing, just as the High Priest would do. As He did so, verse 9 says, “He was taken up!”
Life Principle: The best things in life happen to us when we’re blessing others. You can be lifted up in your spirit when you build others up!
Verse 9 also says that a cloud received Him—not a cloud such as you would see in the sky, but the Chariot of God—the Shekinah Glory of the Lord God Almighty!
It must have been some scene. When people gather at Cape Kennedy to watch a rocket lift off, I guess it is some sight. They say it is an awesome event to behold. And they are expecting it! Just think how awestruck the disciples must have been.
It didn’t take several thousands of pounds of thrust to lift Jesus off. He simply willed it to be so. Consider the following:
(1) Historical Fact
Public
Gradual
Literal
(2) Practical Value
Helps us to appreciate the credibility of Christ. He told them that He would have to leave them one day (John 14:1-6).
If He hadn’t ascended, the Holy Spirit would not have been given to us (John 16:7)
We would never have received our spiritual gifts. Eph.4:7: “when He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.”
His literal, bodily ascension reminds us that that’s the way He will return (vs.11).
His bodily ascension was necessary so that we might learn to walk by faith.
2. The Landing
Moving from Acts 1 to Ephesians 1, we leave earth and glimpse the heavenly side of the Ascension—where the Father has raised Christ from the dead…Eph 1:18-23:
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,
20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
It must have been a marvel when our Savior landed back in His heavenly home. Have you ever watched the landing of one of our space shuttles? Great crowds are gathered—dignitaries, news reporters, family, and friends.
Well, when Jesus returned to the celestial palace and to His Father, I don’t know exactly who was there to greet Him, but I can imagine!
His Father
The Holy Angels
The Prophets
The Apostles
The Redeemed of all the ages
David gives us an idea of how heaven prepared for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote, “Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” [Ps. 24:7-10]
When He was on earth our Lord received a crown of thorns, a scepter, a robe, a beating, the jeers of a hateful mob. But now the Father, in a royal coronation ceremony, placed the KING OF KINGS on His rightful throne.
Philippians 2:9: “Therefore also God highly exalted…and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Let me ask you a question. Has His ascension taken place in your heart? Does He have the highest place? Is He your King? Does He rule your life?
3. The Reassignment
When heroes return home after having successfully completed a mission (astronauts, for example), they are rewarded, publicly. They usually receive a promotion in rank and are reassigned. They rarely retire. Neither did our Lord. Aren’t you glad?
His heavenly ministry is on our behalf! And He functions in four capacities:
(1) Our Construction Manager (John 14:2)
Preparing a place for us
Rebuilding our lives
(2) Our High Priest (Heb.4:14-16)
Sympathizes with our weaknesses
Has been tempted in all ways as we are
(3) Our Advocate (Rom.8:33,34; I John 2:1,2)
Defends us before God from Satan’s accusations and constantly intercedes on our behalf.
(4) Our Constant Companion and Friend (Heb.2:11)
Someone you can count on
Someone who will stay with you when everyone else leaves
4. Our Ascension
Eph 2:4-6
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
We have been raised from deadness
We have been seated with Him in the heavenlies
What does all this mean?
- our vision is clearer
- our outlook is from a heavenly, eternal perspective
- we set our affection on things above (Col.3:2)
ONE FINAL THING. The reality of our Lord’s Ascension means that our hearts, our prayers, our vision, our hope—might be lifted upward. We were reborn for this!
Illus.: “The Mallard Duck”
I read a story once about a farmer in southern Louisiana who captured a mallard duck and tied it with a cord to a stake at the edge of a pond. Through the winter the mallard swam around with the domestic ducks and even ate from the hand of the farmer. When Spring came, all of the other wild ducks that had wintered in that area. Began to fly toward the north. When those flocks arose, they saws the mallard duck down below on the pond. They called to him from the sky. All the other domesticated ducks did not hear or see, nor raise their eyes to look. They just swam in complacency on the farmer’s pond. But when the mallard heard the call, he lifted up his head, and then his wings and tried to fly. But he couldn’t. Again and again, he strained to move upward as the flocks flew overhead, calling to him. Finally, he broke lose and flew skyward, joining the journey home.
It’s the UPWARD CALL, my friends. Don’t you hear it. Get your eyes off of the world and look up. Your Lord is calling you—calling you to a higher, better way of living. And someday, if you remain faithful to Him, your spirit will ascend to be with Him forever.
Joseph Parker’s Tombstone Inscription:
BORN APRIL 9, 1830
ASCENDED, NOVEMBER 28, 1902
