“The Intention Of The Ascension”
Acts 1:1-14
INTRODUCTION: Since Easter Sunday, we have been studying the “Post-Resurrection Appearances Of Jesus”.
We saw how Jesus appeared to:
o The women at the tomb.
o The 2 disciples on the Road to Emmaus.
o The 10 Disciples, with Thomas absent.
o The 11 Disciples, with Thomas present.
o The 7 Disciples as they waited by the Sea of Galilee.
o Peter, asking him, “Do You Really, Really Love Me?”
o Peter, restoring him to ministry.
NOW … we are going to look at the CLIMAX of the Post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus … the ASCENSION.
It has been 40 days since Jesus rose from the dead & first appeared to the women at the tomb.
During these 40 days Jesus met with over 500 people on numerous occasions.
He preached … He taught His Disciples … He performed miracles … much like He did before His death.
BUT … things were DIFFERENT:
o Jesus had a RESURRECTED BODY … which could be SEEN … FELT … EAT … TRAVEL at the speed of thought … PASS through walls.
o Jesus didn’t spend all His time with the 11 Disciples.
- He spent the 40 days appearing to many people …to validate His resurrection from the dead … before He would go back to Heaven.
- A SINGLE sighting would have been open to question … there was now NO QUESTION that He was ALIVE!
WHY 40 DAYS?
“40” is an interesting number in the Scriptures.
o It rained for 40 days/nights in Noah’s day.
o The 12 spies spent 40 days spying out the Promised Land.
o Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness.
o Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days & 40 nights, receiving the Law of God.
o Goliath taunted the Jews for 40 days before David slew him.
o God gave Nineveh 40 days to repent … or be destroyed.
o Jesus was tested by Satan for 40 days in the wilderness.
NOW – Jesus spends 40 days on earth after His resurrection, teaching His Disciples.
Jesus had spent 3½ years teaching them … but they just didn’t get it. They didn’t understand that God’s program meant the cross … and a Kingdom not of this world.
NOW … they are beginning to understand … it’s finally beginning to make sense … they are beginning to “get it”.
Luke tells us about this in Luke 24:45 – “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
Acts 1:3
LUKE tells us the story of the ASCENSION in the book of Acts … let’s listen in …
Acts 1:1 – Luke had told the story of Jesus’ EARTHLY ministry … NOW … he begins the POST-RESURRECTION ministry of Jesus.
“began” – The ASCENSION of Jesus was an EXTENSION of the Resurrection.
Instead of the Resurrection being INSTANTANEOUS, it lasted for 40 days … UNTIL Jesus ASCENDED into Heaven.
BUT – His ministry isn’t OVER … Jesus is about to begin a NEW MINISTRY … from a different headquarters.
Instead of being stationed on planet Earth … He is to be stationed at God’s Throne in Heaven.
That’s where Stephen saw Him a few weeks later … Acts 7:54-56
Acts 1:2 – This tells us what Jesus did during those 40 days … He “had given commandments unto the apostles”.
What were some of those “commandments”?
1.- Matthew 28:18-20 – all turn
Jesus spoke this just before He ascended into Heaven … the “Great Commission”.
The last words of someone are very important. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one … but you can remember the last thing they ever said to you. When somebody leaves on a long trip, you choose your last words carefully.
Jesus gave us (the Church) a COMMISSION … His parting words … His final instructions before changing headquarters.
2.- Luke 24:49 - "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."
10 days after the Ascension, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit which He had promised them – Acts 1:4-5
Jesus had already told the Disciples that the Holy Spirit couldn’t come, UNTIL He left - 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.”
This was “The Intention Of The Ascension”.
NOTICE – It was “through the Holy Spirit” that Jesus gave us the commandments … it is “through the Holy Spirit” that He expects us to obey them.
Acts 1:6 – Jesus took them outside Jerusalem to Bethany, where He would ascend into Heaven.
Luke 24:50-51 – “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. [51] While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.”
Acts 1:7 - The Disciples were still a little confused about the Kingdom of God … despite Acts 1:3.
The Disciples were brought up under the Old Testament teachings of God’s promise to restore to Israel an earthly Kingdom. God’s going to do this … and it will last for 1000 years. God is going to redeem the earth and give the Jews their promised Kingdom.
The Old Testament taught that the Messiah would come and rule & reign over the Jews in God’s Kingdom on earth. Jesus was the Messiah … when is He going to set up His Kingdom?
This was a legitimate question … they didn’t understand that God had ANOTHER “kingdom” to set up first … before He came to rule in an EARTHLY Kingdom.
Before the EARTHLY Kingdom would be established, Jesus would establish a “kingdom”, ruling in the hearts & lives of those who would turn to Him for salvation.
Jesus now tells them HOW He will do it … THROUGH THEM – Acts 1:8
The Apostles did their part … they STARTED in Jerusalem … then went to Judea … then to Samaria … then to the ends of the known world at that time.
NOW … it’s up to US to CONTINUE this mission that they started … that’s the mission of the Church.
Acts 1:9 – During the 40 days after the Resurrection, Jesus moved at the speed of thought … He instantly appeared and vanished.
Luke gives this account of the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:31) - “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.”
BUT HERE, Jesus slowly ascends back into Heaven, “while they beheld”.
IMAGINE how the Disciples must have felt as they saw Jesus slowly disappear heavenward … higher & higher … until He was finally out of sight.
I’m sure they kept looking up … even after He was out of sight … trying to get any last glimpse they could get.
I’m sure they were SAD … because they would never see Jesus again on this earth … never listen to Him preach … never watch Him performing miracles … never enjoy a meal with Him like they had done so many times before.
Luke tells us how they felt, in spite of their sadness (Luke 24:52) – “And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
BUT NOW, while their eyes are gazing skyward … something happens.
Acts 1:10 – These are ANGELS!
Acts 1:11 – “Guess what, guys … Jesus is coming back!”
Jesus is coming back the FIRST TIME to gather His elect from the earth and take them back to Heaven to be with Him forever.
THEN … He’s coming back AGAIN, 7 years later, to set up the Kingdom that He promised Israel … the one the Disciple had asked Jesus about earlier.
“in like manner” – talking about the REVELATION of Jesus.
o Jesus left in a GLORIFIED BODY … He will return in a GLORIFIED BODY.
o He left from the MOUNT OF OLIVES … He will return to the MOUNT OF OLIVES.
Zech. 14:4 – “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.”
The angels are giving them the assurance that Jesus hasn’t forgotten His promise to the Jews … just because He’s leaving.
Acts 1:12 – The Disciples go back to Jerusalem to wait the 10 days until Jesus sends the Holy Spirit … about 2/3 of a mile away.
Acts 1:13 – all 11 of the Disciples were there … no defectors … no doubters NOW!
By now, the Disciples were used to WAITING.
o Thomas had to wait a week before Jesus again appeared to the Disciples before he could see Him.
o They waited by the Sea of Galilee for Jesus … and went fishing to occupy their time.
o They waited for Jesus to meet them in Jerusalem, just before His ascension.
NOW … they must wait 10 days for Jesus to send the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
What did they do while they were waiting?
Acts 1:14 – I’m glad Mary, Jesus’ mother, was there.
She had gotten a bad rap about her Son being born of a virgin … and now her reputation was restored.
Jesus’ claim to be the “Son of God” has been validated … just like Mary had claimed all along.
CONCLUSION:
The Ascension of Jesus marked the end of a chapter in the earthly life of Jesus.
I’m sure the Disciples were sorry to seem Him go … BUT … they didn’t realize that they would be better off with Him gone.
WHY? While on earth, Jesus limited Himself to be in only 1 place at 1 time.
What if Jesus HADN’T ascended? THEN … He couldn’t be in Iraq with the soldiers … and in Washington D.C. with the President at the same time.
INSTEAD … Jesus sent the Holy Spirit … who lives in me … and you … and every other Christian all over the earth.
This is the SAME Holy Spirit who lived in Peter, Paul, and Luke.
The Ascension of Jesus allows Him to live in your heart and be close to you at all times.
His presence is REAL … but how much you EXPERIENCE Him is up to you.
The same POWER that Jesus gave His Disciples is the same POWER that Jesus has given you … the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT.
While you may not be able to do the same things the Disciples did … you can do everything that Jesus CALLS you to do.
AND … What does Jesus CALL you to do? The same thing He called the Disciples to do.
Matthew 28:18-20 – “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
Let’s fulfill “The Intention Of The Ascension”!
STAND – PRAYER
HYMN – “All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name”
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT
“The Intention Of The Ascension”
Acts 1:1-14
INTRODUCTION: The ASCENSION is the CLIMAX of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.
o It has been 40 days since Jesus rose from the dead. … which He spent preaching, teaching, miracles & validating His resurrection.
o NOW, the Disciples begin to understand – Luke 24:45, Acts 1:3
Acts 1:1 – The Ascension was an EXTENSION of the Resurrection.
o Jesus is changing the location of His headquarters – Acts 7:54-56
Acts 1:2 – Jesus gave COMMANDMENTS during the 40 days”
1.- Matthew 28:18-20 – “The Great Commission”
2.- Luke 24:49 – 10 days later, Jesus would send the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:4-5, John 16:7 – “The Intention Of The Intention”.
Acts 1:6 – Jesus ascended from Bethany – Luke 24:50-51
Acts 1:7 - The Disciples were still confused about the Kingdom of God, when Jesus rules on the Kingdom on earth for 1000 years.
o Jesus would FIRST establish a “kingdom” in the hearts of Christians … His new family.
Acts 1:8 – Jesus will establish His Kingdom through THEM.
o The Church is to continue this mission.
Acts 1:9 – The Disciples gaze into the sky as Jesus slowly ascends – Luke 24:31, Luke 24:52
Acts 1:10 – 2 angels appear with a message.
Acts 1:11 – Jesus is coming back … at the Rapture … and at the Revelation – Zechariah 14:4
o Jesus hasn’t abandoned them.
Acts 1:12 – The Disciples return to Jerusalem … to wait.
Acts 1:13 – There were no doubters NOW!
Acts 1:14 – They waited in unity, in prayer.
CONCLUSION: The Ascension means that the Holy Spirit would come to give you the same power He gave the Disciples … to do what God has called you to do – Matthew 28:18-20
o This is “The Intention Of The Ascension”.
PRISCILLA BAPTIST CHURCH – Ray Scott, Pastor
