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The 41st Day: What Happens Next?

The 41st Day: What Happens Next?

Thoughts on the Ascension

After his suffering, Jesus showed himself to his apostles and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to more than 500 believers over a period of 40 days… (Acts 1:3, and 1 Corinthians 15:6)

“You’ve heard me tell you, ‘I’m going away, and I’m coming back.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I’m on my way to the Father because the Father is the goal and purpose of my life. I’ve told you this ahead of time, before it happens, so that when it does happen, the confirmation will deepen your belief in me. I’ll not be talking with you much more like this because the chief of this godless world is about to attack. But don’t worry – he has nothing on me, no claim on me. But so the world might know how thoroughly I love the Father, I am carrying out my Father’s instructions right down to the last detail.” (John 14:28-31; also refer to John 16:28)

Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, “I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.” (John 20:17)

Worth A Thousand Words: The Ascension of Christ, Hans Suess von Kulmbach

When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?” He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.” These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared – in white robes! They said, “You Galileans – Why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly – and mysteriously – as he left.” So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. (Acts 1:6-12) 

A Thought on the Ascension:

The secret of the whole world of humanity is the love between the Father and the Son. That is at the root of it all. Upon the love between the Son and Father hangs the whole universe. What can it mean exactly, you know, I cannot tell you. Why the Lord must go and ascend to His Father, though with Him all the time and with Him at the moment, I cannot tell you; but it means something, as if there were some center somewhere where this very body of His must be embraced by the arms of the Father before He was satisfied – as if He had to go back and tell His Father, “I have done it, Father, I have done it. It is over now and we shall have them all back by and by.” (George MacDonald, from his sermon, Knowing the Risen Lord)