Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 4
Sunday


THE ASCENSION

READ:
Acts 1:1-11
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I go to prepare a place
for you.... I will come
again and receive you
to Myself; that where I
am, there you may be
also. ___John 14:2-3
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The repeated appearances of Jesus after His death and resurrection brought His followers so much joy that they must have wanted the visits to continue indefinitely. But on the 40th day after His resurrection, having given His disciples final instructions, Jesus slowly ascended and a cloud hid Him from view.

Jesus could have vanished instantly, as He had done previously (Luke 24:31). But He chose to ascend visibly to impress on His followers that this was the end of His visits. His bodily presence would soon be replaced by "another Helper," the Holy Spirit promised in John 14:16. Jesus' ascension marked the dawn of a new era.

In His glorified human body, the Lord Jesus ascended, entered heaven, sat down at the right hand of God, sent the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18; Acts 2:33), and now intercedes for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25). He permeates the whole universe with His spiritual presence and power (col. 1:15-23; Eph. 4:10).

An ancient writing says that Jesus ascended bodily into heaven "our entrance to secure, and our abode to prepare." That's true. But it's also true that as God, He is always spiritually present with us and will be "to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). What a wonderful Savior we have! __Herb vander Lugt
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````````````````````The Lord ascended bodily````````````````````
``````````````````From earth to heaven's throne;`````````````````
```````````````````Now He is there to intercede``````````````````
`````````````````For those who are His own. __Sper```````````````
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Jesus went away so the Holy Spirit could come to stay.

******************Today's Bible Reading __ Acts 1:1-11************

1 The former account I
made, O Theophilus, of all
that Jesus began both to do
and teach, 2 until the day in
which He was taken up, after
He through the Holy Spirit
had given commandments to
the apostles whom He had
chosen, 3 to whom He also
presented Himself alive after
His suffering by many
infallible proofs, being seen
by them during forty days
and speaking of the things
pertaining to the kingdom of
God.

4 And being assembled
together with them, He
commanded them not to
depart from Jerusalem, but to
wait for the Promise of the
Father, "which," He said,
"you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with
water, but you shall be
baptized with the Holy Spirit
not many days from now,."

6 Therefore, when they had
come together, they asked
Him, saying, "Lord, will You
at this time restore the
kingdom to Israel? 7 and
He said to them, "It is not
for you to know times or
seasons which the Father has
put in His own authority.

8 But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you
shall be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and samaria, and to the end
of the earth."

9 Now when He had spoken
these things, while they
watched, He was taken up,
and a cloud received Him
out of their sight. 10 And
while they looked steadfastly
toward heaven as He went
up, behold, two men stood
by them in white apparel,

11 who also said, "Men of
Galilee, why do you stand
gazing up into heaven? This
same Jesus, who was taken
up from you into heaven,
will so come in like manner
as you saw Him go into
heaven."