Ascension Day is the day Jesus Christ ascended to heaven in his recently resurrected glorified human body. What the disciples witnessed that day was not an illusion. I am trying to imagine what they experienced.
First: Jesus walked into their lives three and a half years ago, calling them by saying: Follow Me! They left everything, their homes, their families, their careers. They watched how Jesus became an overnight sensation. People flocked to Him to be healed, delivered, fed and taught. They watched the growing antagonism of the Pharisees. They heard his teachings, parables, revelations about Him as Son and God as Father. They just knew He was their Messiah that will rid them of Roman oppression. He began to warn them of impending doom. He was going to die. They were going to die because of their faith in Him. He said He will leave but send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit. Not another human like Himself because He was going somewhere to prepare a place for them. Then He will return to fetch them. In the meantime He was sending them out to carry a message on his behalf.
Then came that dreadful night in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was troubled, upset, very stressed, intensely focussed, praying, wrestling until his sweat drops became blood. They saw the betrayer kiss Him. The soldiers arresting Him, mocking, spitting on Him. He was meek as a lamb. Silent. One long look at Peter when the rooster crowed. They saw Him condemned to death, whipped into a bloody mess. They watched Him being crucified, forgiving, thirsting, straining against the nails, crying: God why have You forsaken Me? And then that final long breath: It is finished!
They saw Him dead, buried and the tomb sealed. They hid away. Terrified that their turn to die is coming. Their Messiah was dead. Their mission aborted. Their calling evaporating. They were afraid and the door was locked.
Then Mary came running with the news that the tomb was empty and Jesus was alive! Shock. Disbelief. Where was He? What is going on? What does it mean? He is alive? Suddenly He was in the room with them. He came through the locked door! He was not a ghost. He proved it by eating fish. He breathed on them and said: Receive the Holy Spirit.
For 40 days He appeared to them. Once by the sea of Galilee He asked Peter: Do you love me? He lifted Peter’s shame and gave him a job: Feed my sheep and when you’re old you will die for Me. He spoke to them about the Kingdom. They got courage. Maybe now He will be the Messiah. Now Israel will be restored.
On the 40th day they were on the Mount of Olives. Jesus was more intense than usual. He said they didn’t need to know about the Father’s times and seasons for Israel. It was not for them. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the Spirit that was going to take place in a few days. And then, as He was speaking He began to rise up in the air! He stretched out His hands to bless them and said: Go into all the world. Tell people about Me and what I told you. Baptise them. Disciple them.
And just like that He was gone. into heaven! They were still gazing at heaven when a voice startled them. There were two angels. They said: Why are you staring into heaven? He will come back in the same way. Now get going with what He told you to do. Go to Jerusalem and wait…
Ten days of waiting. Ten earthly days. In heaven there was a mad search going on. God the Father was holding a scroll. It was firmly sealed with seven seals. Nobody could open it and it must be opened! They searched for someone worthy enough to take the scroll and open it’s seals. They searched the heavens. They searched the earth. They even searched under the earth. No one was found worthy. Then a cloud entered heaven and the Lion of the tribe of Judah stepped into the throne room. He looked like a lamb that was slaughtered. His blood was everywhere. He was presented before the Ancient of Days… then He poured his blood on the mercy seat, the throne of grace…
Meanwhile the 120 gathered in the upper room and waited…
Let us bow down and worship. Our Lord Jesus Christ was found worthy! He is worthy! He is our Messiah. He delivered Jews and Gentiles from the slavery and oppression of Satan who manipulated people with the fear of death, a far worse enemy than Rome. He is preparing a place for us and when it is ready He will come to fetch us.
Now let us get on with the task He has given us. Let’s go! The time is short.