Ascension of Jesus

After forty days of preparing His disciples for their future roles, Jesus repeated His Great Commission to them and then ascended to heaven to begin His ministry as our heavenly High Priest.

After his death, Jesus presented Himself alive to His followers several times in different settings over a period of 40 days, providing indisputable evidence of His resurrection. At times, He spoke one-on-one with friends. At times, He ate meals with them and talked about the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the Father’s promise.

“I told you about this promise before. John baptized with water; very soon you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit."

The last time they were together, Jesus’ followers asked Him, “Master, now are You going to restore Israel’s kingdom? Is this the time?”

“That’s not something you need to know. The timing is all up to the Father. But you will receive something special: the power of the Holy Spirit. When He comes upon you, you will have the ability to be witnesses of what I did and will continue to do. You will be my message carriers not only to people in Jerusalem but all over Judea, next door in Samaria, around the world, and back again!”

Jesus was finished talking. He began to rise. His followers looked on, amazed! He continued to rise, and before long, clouds covered him. His followers just stared up at the clouds, dumbfounded. Would He appear again? Would He come back down? They weren’t sure what to think.

Jesus passed into and through the clouds right up into Heaven. Although Jesus’ followers on the Mount of Olives were confused, He must have been greeted with shouts and songs of praise as He returned to heaven. Then, a hush probably came over them as God’s voice was heard:

“Sit at my right hand, the honored, most privileged place, until I make your enemies a stool for your feet. Just as I declared—and my Word stands forever—You are the permanent mediator, like Melchizedek of old, only better.”

On that day, Jesus began a new ministry as High Priest. Knowing what it was like to be a man with weaknesses and testing, having experienced it all—all but the sin—Jesus could be the one and only mediator between God and man. He was perfect man and holy God. That’s why we can come to Him courageously to receive His mercy and grace. Jesus became our guarantor of a right relationship between us and God! His blood opened a new and living way for us by tearing down the barrier that existed. He now mediates that New Covenant.

Back on earth, Jesus’ followers looked back and forth across the sky, eyes searching the clouds for another glimpse of Jesus, their feet glued in place. They didn’t want to leave. Suddenly, out of nowhere, two men in white stood beside them and addressed them.

“O Galileans, why are you gazing at clouds? Jesus has gone to Heaven—you saw it happen! But one day, He will return just like you saw Him go.” So His followers left the Mount of Olives and walked the half mile back to Jerusalem.