When he had led them 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. (Luke 24:50-51) On Thursday, May 17, 2007, forty days after our celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection our attention is directed to The Ascension. The Ascension represents the pinnacle of the life of Jesus and it consists of three events, which include:
· The final departure of Jesus from earth
· His going up in heaven
· The taking of His place at the right hand of God the Father
Forty days after his Resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven while His disciples watched. Jesus took His place at the right hand of the Father, the place he had from eternity, but from now on as a Man-God. For all of us who profess to be Christian, the Ascension represents the climax of our life in Christ. The Bible reminds us that, “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming”. (1Cor.15:23)
It is interesting to note that, when Jesus went up to Heaven, he didn't go to some place far off as many imagine. What we must understand is that Heaven is where Jesus is. Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23) Therefore if we declare that Jesus is in us then the whole Heaven is in our heart, including the Father and the Holy Spirit. If we declare that Jesus is in us then we certainly have a responsibility as we have welcomed Jesus into our hearts, we are now the temple of God, the home or dwelling of God. Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple. (1 Cor. 3:16-17)
The disciples did not see Jesus rise out from the grave, however Jesus’ Resurrection would be proven by His being seen alive afterwards. But the disciples did witness the Ascension: he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:9) Just before the Ascension, Jesus uttered His last words on earth, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the earth" (Act.1:8). That promise to the disciples on that day is also a promise for us. We are charged to be witnesses of Jesus with the power of the Spirit to the end of the earth. Just before the Ascension, "Jesus lifted up his hands and bless them" (Lk.24:50). Jesus went in love and He left a blessing behind. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)
The Bible says that after the Ascension, the disciples were gazing up to Heaven, and two angels appeared and said to them, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up to the sky?" What that said to the disciples then and is saying to disciples today, you have seen all you were called together to see—now why are you still standing here looking up?
Rev.W.


--Rev. Charles R. Watkins, Jr.

Because we are waiting for someone to tell us what to do. As Christians we are stuck. Atleast some of us. It's like we are in limbo. We really don't know what to do or where to go after we are saved. Some of us get saved and that is it. We jump and start doing things because that is what we see everyone else doing and before long we are miserable. We wonder why we have no joy, peace, hope or happiness and before long there we are standing. Looking up into the sky for a sign or direction. Perhaps even expecting God to do some heavenly sky writing. We are looking up because we need to be discipled, delivered from things that carry us away from God, and actually seek God for strength and intervention for all of our weaknesses. We need some direction even after we get saved. We need people to come along and challenge us to grow and to change in our lives. People who are bold enough to tell us that Jesus wants to do more than just save us. He wants to fill us with the Holy Spirit, transform us, and then use us. It is not until we have been crushed, pressed, pulled apart, and put together again by the Hands of God that we see it is only by His strength and power that we are capable of doing anything. Until then we will be looking up.
--Camilla Boyd
<mailto:mocamomma@hotmail.com>