Jesus Ascends To Heaven

Jesus ascends to Heaven is among the most important events in the life of Jesus. It is important because He died and rose again, then went back to His home where His work continues on our behalf.

One record of Jesus' ascension was written by Luke in the Book of Acts. In a letter to his friend Theophilus. Luke wrote:

‘In my first letter I told you about Jesus’ life and teachings and how he returned to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions from the Holy Spirit."

Events preceding Jesus' ascension to Heaven

Several important events preceded Jesus' ascension to Heaven. First of all, the Lord was crucified on a cross.

Three days later, just as He had said to His disciples He rose from the dead. His tomb is empty and He is not there.

Secondly, Jesus remained on the earth with His disciples for forty days after His resurrection. In so doing, the Lord Jesus proved to them in many ways that it really was Him they were seeing and He was alive.

He worked many miracles which were too numerous for His disciples to write down.

Jesus also talked about the Kingdom of God.

Jesus also talked about the baptism with the Holy Spirit

During one of these meetings Jesus told His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. This was to fulfil God’s promise and He had previously discussed this with them.

Jesus said:

‘John baptised you with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit in just a few days.’

The day that Jesus ascended to Heaven

Jesus ascended to Heaven forty days after rising from the dead. On that day, the Lord took His disciples the Mount of Olives, which was located just outside Jerusalem.

Curious, the disciples asked if the Lord would free the nation from the Roman government and restore Israel as an independent nation.

Jesus replied that His Father had set those dates, and did not want His disciples to know this information.

Instead, Jesus talked to His disciples about how they would become witnesses when they received the infilling with the Holy Spirit.

He told them that they would receive power to testify about His death and resurrection. They would tell the people in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria and through all the earth.

Soon afterwards, Jesus rose into the sky and disappeared into a cloud, leaving the disciples staring after Him.

Two Angels appeared to the disciples as they stared up into the sky

The disciples stared up into the sky for another glimpse of Jesus.

As they did so, two men dressed in white robes appeared and stood with them. The Angels spoke to them.

‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has gone away to heaven, and some day, just as He went, He will return!’

The disciples returned to Jerusalem

The disciples walked the short journey back to Jerusalem. They held a prayer meeting in an upstairs room of the house where they were staying.

The list of persons who were in the Upper Room. included Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon the zealot, Judas (son of James), and the brothers of Jesus.

Some women were also there and this group included Jesus’ mother.

Jesus ascends to heaven verses (NASB) ACTS 1: 1- 14

1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,

2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ``Which," He said, ``you heard of from Me;

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ``Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them, ``It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.

11 They also said, ``Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.

13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.