Going up

Going up

Bible: Acts 1 : 1 – 11

Reading

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be
with you for ever—the Spirit of truth (JOHN 14:16-17).

The many meetings with Jesus after His death and resurrection brought His friends so much happiness that they must have wanted the visits to just go on and on. But on the fortieth day after His resurrection, having
given His friends some final instructions, Jesus slowly went up into the sky, and a cloud hid Him from view.

Jesus could have vanished instantly, as He had done once before (LUKE 24:31). But He chose to rise into the sky for all to see to show clearly to His followers that this was the end of His visits. His physical presence would soon be replaced by “another [helper]”: the Holy Spirit promised in John 14:16. Jesus’ ascension was the beginning of a new era. Jesus went up, entered heaven, sat down at the right hand of God, sent the Holy Spirit (JOHN 14:16-18; ACTS 2:33), and now prays and speaks with the Father for us (ROMANS 8:34; HEBREWS 7:25). He fills the whole universe with His presence and power (COLOSSIANS 1:15-23; EPHESIANS 4:10).

He is no longer limited to one place on earth. Jesus tells us that He went to heaven to “prepare a place for [us]”
(JOHN 14:3). That’s an exciting thing to think about! But it’s also true that as God, He is still always spiritually with us and will be “to the end of the age” (MATTHEW 28:20). What a wonderful God we have!

JESUS WENT AWAY SO THE HOLY SPIRIT

COULD COME AND STAY.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries