"he Ascended Into Heaven"

If you are a sports fan you love the game. You follow your team through the season, whether baseball or football, through the hard fought wins and crushing defeats. The excitement increase should your team make the playoffs. Each game now carries greater importance. In fact, in football loose and your season is over. But should your team go all the way and win to become the champion then there is unbridled celebration.

In order to facilitate that celebration the winning city will host a ‘ticker-tape’ parade. There, thousands of fans assemble to cheer their victors and revel in the triumph. That celebration alone is a fitting end to the entire season.

As we come to the conclusion of Luke’s gospel we find it ending with the Ascension of Christ into heaven. We also find Luke’s second book, Acts, opening with the Ascension of Christ. Yet, of all the aspects of Christ’s life, his birth, life, death and resurrection, the ascension gets little attention. This is unfortunate because it is something of the ‘Ticker-tape’ parade in God’s plan and yet few show up to applaud.

So today I want us to take a little closer look at the ascension and hopefully better appreciate it so that we can applaud and celebrate.

Ending his gospel, Luke’s account is brief. He gives us no time factor and starts simply by saying;

“When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted his hands and blessed them.”

Some feel that it was the same day as the resurrection, but this cannot be accurate. It is in the opening of the Book of Acts that Luke provides details. Luke recounts there that Jesus;

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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.”

So for forty days Jesus had been providing “convincing proofs” that he was alive. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Cor.15:3-8;

“3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

Jesus had instructed the disciples to go and remain in Jerusalem until he sent them the gift from his Father, which we know would be the Holy Spirit ten days later on Pentecost. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said;

“ 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.”

Again, we see his last words directing his followers to be witnesses to Him “to the ends of the earth.” The word “witnesses” is martys where we get the word, martyr, one who witnesses by his death. The fact is, except for the Apostle John, it seems all the Apostles were martyred for Christ.

As he said these things he blessed them. It was the custom of the culture to pronounce a blessing, a benediction upon those you were leaving. But as Hendricksen points out;

“This act of blessing is more than mere well-wishing. It is an effective impartation of welfare, peace and power.”

We are not told just what words he used, but he blessed them. As he did so we read;

“He left them and was taken up into heaven.”

Additionally, Acts adds;

“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.”

Luke’s gospel ends;

“Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

At the magnificent event that took place before their eyes the disciples reacted appropriately - they worshiped him. This is the only real response to be given before the King of glory! They had accepted that Jesus was the divine Son of God and worshipped His deity.

To worship and honor they added obedience. They “returned” to Jerusalem as Christ instructed. This is the only appropriate action after worshiping and acknowledging Jesus as Lord. It is false worship and divided allegiance not obey the very one you pay homage to as king. They returned “with great joy.” One might think they would be sad with Jesus leaving them. But, by now Christ’s instructions were taking root in fertile hearts of faith and they trusted His word and looked forward to the Father’s gift.