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Max Lucado, tells the story of a missionary in Brazil who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. A contagious disease was ravaging the population; people were dying daily. A hospital was across the river but the Indians would not cross it because they believed the river was inhabited by evil spirits. To enter its water would mean certain death.

The missionary took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water. They still would not go in. He walked into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter, they were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dove into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He raised a triumphant fist into the air. The Indians broke into a cheer and followed him across.

The night before he went to the cross, Jesus told his disciples: “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father” (John 16:28). When he arose from the dead he told Mary “do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God (John 20:17).

Jesus’ earthly ministry reached its culmination with his ascension into heaven. Throughout the period of the post-resurrection forty days, Jesus had frequently appeared and disappeared. Each time he would vanish, they knew that he would appear again. But, on the 40^th day, they watched gravity lose its power as Jesus rose up into heaven. 

Luke 24:50-52 says this about the event, “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 was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy”.  In Acts 1: 9-11 Luke succinctly repeats the ascension story which he told at the end of his gospel.

He wrote, “he was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The ascension of Christ into heaven is one of the most remarkable events in the Bible. We do not talk about it as often as we do crucifixion and the resurrection but every Christian group believes that at the end of his earthly life, Christ ascended into heaven. Unlike the resurrection, which no one saw as it was happening, the disciples actually saw Jesus ascend into heaven.

A cloud hid him from their sight. In the Old Testament a cloud depicted the very presence of God. In Exodus 24:16-18 we read that the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai and the cloud covered it...He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud. In Exodus 40:34-38 we are told that the cloud covered the tent of meeting. Moses was not able to enter because the cloud had settled on it.

In Exodus 19:9 God said to Moses, ‘behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you and believe you forever.’ A cloud also enveloped Jesus and three of his disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-35). Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus . A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved son. Hear him!”

It’s amazing that the disciples immediately recognized Moses and Elijah. Their immediate recognition of these men gives some evidence that we will also be able to recognize others in heaven. And why was it these two particular men from the Old Testament and not two others? Maybe Moses represented those who go to heaven through death while Elijah represented those who go to heaven without death (1 Thess. 4:13-18).

The men in white told the disciples “this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven”(Acts 1:11). Twice in this verse the word “same” is used.  The same Jesus will one day return in the same way he went. His return will be personal; it will be Jesus and not some substitute. He will come on the clouds of heaven (Matt 26:64).

His return will be visible, every eye will see him(Revelation 1:7) All the tribes of the earth will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (matt.24:30)”. His return will be sudden and unexpected; He will come like a thief (Rev. 16:15). Jesus returns will be to the very place he left. His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east” (Zech 14:4).

A cloud is mentioned at His ascension and the clouds are mentioned at His return. As Jesus relates the end-time events, he says, "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" (Luke 21:27, Matt24:30). Jesus was born in a stable and wrapped in swaddling clothes (Luke 2:12). When He left this earth, God wrapped his Son in the comfort of his cloud in order to welcome Him home. 

Jesus returned to the Father and took his place on the throne (Rev. 3:21). And what an amazing sight it would have been to see Jesus take his place on the throne. The prophet Daniel had a vision of this amazing event years before it happened. He wrote “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Dan.7:13-14). Here Daniel’s vision telescopes the events of both Christ’s ascension and return when all people will bow before him in heaven.

Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand-with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.  God has seated him in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion. God has appointed him to be head over everything for the church , which is his body , the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (1Peter 3:22, Eph. 1:20-23).

He is also preparing a place for us. He said “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). The dead in Christ will rise and be joined by those still alive in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so they will be with the Lord forever (1 Thess.4:16-17).

The ascension marked the beginning of his new work as High Priest. We should not sin, but if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the father (1 John 2:1-2); one who was tempted in every way, just as we are yet he did not sin(Heb. 4:14-16). Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:23-25).

When Jesus told his disciples about his impending death and resurrection, they were filled with sorrow (matt 17: 22-23). But, when he left them and was taken up into heaven, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God (Luke 24:52-53). They knew his departure was not final; there will be a reunion. So to them the ascension was a glorious thing.

The ascension serves as a reminder that our ultimate destiny is not on this earth but in the heavenly realms. It inspires us to anticipate the return of Christ, when His glory will be fully revealed. It gives us hope for the future, knowing that we will one day join Christ in his heavenly kingdom. This hope encourages us to persevere and remain faithful in our journey of faith.

While Luke 24 and Acts 1 help us see the details related to the Ascension, Mark 16:19-20 tell us where Jesus is now and what we should be doing. We read “after the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” 

Jesus had prayed “and now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (John 17:5). He did not disappear; rather, he arrived at his destination. That’s the confident assurance we have when a believer leaves this world. In John’s vision the ascended Jesus told the church in Laodicea “to him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne”( Rev.3:21).

The most important task of the Church is to be the visible witness of the invisible kingdom on earth. To enable us do that we have the Holy Spirit. Jesus has all the necessary power and authority; this power is at our disposal. He is also in the very presence of God interceding for us. Jesus will certainly return, but before he comes, the gospel must first be preached to all the nations (Matt 24:14, Mark 13:10). Let us ‘do business until he comes” (Luke 19:13).