Scripture: Acts 1 v 9 - 11:
"And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, 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 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven."
What an amazing sight for people 2000 years ago to witness! Firstly, they had known this miracle Person as a close friend and teacher, who had lived among them, for 3 years. They had seen Him heal lepers; open blind eyes and deaf ears. He raised the dead, He healed the lame and told people about Heaven, Hell, His Father and the evil Devil before He was crucified.
Then He was resurrected from the dead. Not only did they see, touch, dine with and watch Him walk through walls, but after pulling up empty nets on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was seen on the shore telling them to try again. The two boats nearly sank under the huge numbers of fish they caught that day. Then Jesus told them they would become fishers of the souls of mankind. Evangelists. Apostles. Prophets. Teachers. Pastors.
Even more astonishing was when He was resurrected, all the old prophets and men of renown like Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Moses, David etc appeared too, walking around Jerusalem. They could only look on all these things with utter amazement. Only the Son of God could do all this.
Matthew 27 v 50 - 54: "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God."
Jesus did a quick ascent that day too, to lead captivity captive and deliver them to His Father.
Ephesians 4 v 8 - 10: "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"
He told Mary in the garden, who was the first to see Him in His resurrected body, not to touch Him as He had not yet ascended to His Father. John 20 v 15 - 17: "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."
Before He left Earth 2000 years ago, or 2 days in God's timetable of 1 day equals 1000 years, Jesus had some powerful words to say to His disciples. It was now forty days since His resurrection, and they listened as He said that they must wait in Jerusalem until the gift of our Father, the Holy Spirit, would come upon them and empower them to tell the whole world about Him.
Now His followers watched Him ascend into heaven and two men in white, people they did not recognize, were telling them Jesus Christ will return the same way. He had told them the things that would be occurring on Earth when His return was near.
There would be famine, plagues, severe storms, many earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, great troubles on Earth as Satan tries to destroy this planet before He gets back. It's already polluted to beyond human help. Sin is the factor that brings death and decay. Sometimes quickly, or over years. Jesus conquered death. For all believers.
So rejoice today as we remember His glorious ascension and all that has been achieved for His Kingdom since He left. Our Lord is on His way back to rescue us before all Hell breaks loose on this planet.
When the graves were opened on the day of resurrection of Jesus it was a forerunner of the Rapture when the dead in Christ will rise first. His ascending into Heaven is to show us how the Rapture will take place. We who are alive will ascend just like He did. Rejoice that its not 2000 years away but soon very soon we are going to see our King!
Only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be Raptured. Everyone else will be getting ready for the Day of Judgment. The time to finalise your choice is now.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, it was a glorious day for You when Jesus returned to Heaven after such a long absence while He was about Your business. That was our salvation He was busy with. Many sceptics mock that He will never return, but Jesus has never lied, and now everything is ready for the day of the Lord. We rejoice as we look forward with great expectation of His coming and pray earnestly for all to know Him before that day. In Jesus' name. Amen.