In the Clouds

READ: MARK 16:19-20; LUKE 24:50-53; ACTS 1:4-11; REVELATION 1:7

Recently I noticed Ascension Day on the calendar of a religious publication. In my faith tradition, little attention is given to this monumental event. However, the fact that Jesus ascended into heaven is vital to our understanding of His birth, death, and resurrection. Scripture reveals that Christ ascended into heaven forty days after He rose from the dead. Luke 24:50-51 says, “When he had led them [his disciples] out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” What a remarkable sight—imagine Jesus being taken up into heaven right in front of your eyes! The Scriptures sparked my enthusiasm about the ascension. I rediscovered fantastic truths surrounding this historic event:

• Jesus told us to share His message of love and hope just before He ascended into heaven (Matthew 28:18-20).

• Jesus promised believers the gift of the Holy Spirit, who comforts us, counsels us, and equips us to share the good news and serve in His kingdom—and if Jesus hadn’t left, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t have come (Luke 24:49; John 14:15-31; 16:7; Acts 1:5).

• Jesus will return the same way that He left. Can you picture the disciples as they witnessed their teacher’s departure from this earth? While they were focused on the sky, two angels showed up with the declaration that Jesus “will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). And Revelation 1:7 says, “‘Look, he is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see him.’”

How should the ascension impact our lives? This clear sign does not mean that we should spend every day leisurely cloud watching as we wait for Jesus to return. Jesus commands us to look around us to those who need to hear the good news of His sacrificial love for all people. As we ponder Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, we are encouraged to share the hope we have in Him—that everyone who puts their trust in Jesus has a restored relationship with God, and that someday Jesus will return and restore this broken world and we will finally see His righteous kingdom come in all its fullness. • Debbie Ewald

• Why is it important that we know how Jesus will return? And how can His ascension impact the way we understand the gospel?

“This same Jesus…will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 (NIV)