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The Risen Lord Ascends into Heaven

Mark 16:19-20(NIV) 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Acts 1:10-11 (The Message)As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”

The Scriptures do not portray the Ascension as a day of sadness. While still looking up at the skies, the disciples were consoled by the continuing presence of the Lord. Angels who had announced His Birth and Resurrection, announced the end of Jesus’ physical presence on Earth and His promised return. The disciples may have been a bit bewildered, but did not leave the mountain grieving. They would soon find that Jesus’ ministry continued with them through the presence of the Holy Spirit and continues still, through you and me.

We may ache for His physical return, for the end of all sadness and pain, but He is with us this very moment. Remember that, for you can get so caught up in focusing on the “End Times” that you neglect “Your Times” with Jesus. How does He want you to live today ? What does He want you to do with your life now ? How do you do that ?  What did the disciples do ? First they left that mountain. They didn’t stay and build a monastery, develop an Ascension Gardens or a landing zone for Jesus’ return. They returned to the familiar surroundings of the Upper Room, with others in their community to pray in anticipation of their mission. They spent time together, experienced Pentacost and soon preached everywhere, confirming that He was with them. The signs of His presence always are around us as well, and If you and I pay attention, we can experience Him every day.

Sometimes, I think we spend a little too much time staring into the heavens looking for Jesus and His return. You can spend months wrapped up in looking for rapture, time-tables and prophecies about the end-times and Jesus’ return and not get anything else done in your life. Let me tell you, fretting about Eschatology (the study of the end times) does not help you deal with sin, heal the sick, feed the hungry or share the Gospel with a broken world. We need to heed the angel’s direction and get on with following Jesus. Just know that it will be all good in the end.

So then, find your Upper Room, pray with anticipation, fellowship with others, and be filled with His Holy Spirit. Finally, remember you are a pilgrim on the journey home, and while you travel along your way, invite someone to join you. That is what we are “commissioned” to do.

Peace.

Phil Parsons