Power - The Ascension

Jesus had announced on the cross that His physical work on Earth was done: "It is finished."

After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

Acts 1:3

He was not going to physically stay here on Earth. He told Mary, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17)

He called His disciples "friends," and He was a true friend to them. He showed His love by dying on the cross and by sending the Holy Spirit to help them. He knew that the best way to help them was to return to the Father.

But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 

John 16:7-11

Jesus knew that He was limited by His physical body and that His followers would need the Holy Spirit living in them to accomplish the work that He wanted them to do. Jesus was returning to heaven to prepare a place for His followers and to intercede for them.

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Romans 8:34

As Jesus was ascending, He blessed the disciples.  Jesus’ blessing was not just flowery words or platitudes. Jesus’ blessings have power. The disciples knew this. “And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising Him.” (Luke 24:52) It was here that they waited for the Promise - the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the power to witness “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus’ ascension was also a foreshadow of how He would return.

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.” Acts 1: 10-11

Jesus is still seated at the right hand of God interceding for us and preparing a place for us. 

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

He will come back for us. Like the disciples, we can lift our eyes to Jesus and then go into the world, worshiping Jesus with joy and peace. We have a true friend who is watching over us and will return with power and glory.

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  Luke 21: 27-28