John 20:17
John 20:17
Jesus said to her, “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.’”
Luke 24:50-51
And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.
Acts 1:11
And said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into Heaven.”
The Ascension wasn't really my favorite part of God's Word. So - out there. And then my friend Dee gave me something to hold on to and completely changed my mind. And we will get there.
I've listened to so many people talk about the Ascension. Can we ignore this entirely unusual portion of Scripture??? No, probably not. Believing Jesus rose from the dead and is alive cause us to think about the impossible words and deeds of Jesus Christ, Only Son of God. And
Elijah ascended! We all love to hear about Elisha witnessing the blessing of God's Double Spiritual Gifts. We want to be there - help, comfort, understand and be comforted when someone we love and respect passes on to God's Heavenly Kingdom.
The Ascension provides us time to think about Proverbs 8: 27
God created the circles of the deep
How would Solomon know of this aerial delight? It's not a native Israel beauty. Solomon never visited
Alaska, Oceans meeting salt to brackish.
Consider... Israel is a Nation today...
after 2,000 years and you are alive to know Israel Lives.
Aerial Views...
Between 1955 and 1972, airplane passenger numbers more than quadrupled. By 1972 almost half of all Americans had flown,
although most passengers were still business travelers.
Half of Americans in 1972, had never flown on an airplane.
Never saw what Jesus saw...
Consider being, wonder, wonder, wonder
being Jesus in the Ascension
Instead... The people of Jesus' time on earth, could travel 20 or possibly 25 mph, or
knots on a sailboat.
Never would they see an aerial photo or view of Jerusalem.
Rise. Rise up. Rise above it my grandmother always said.
"Rise" is Personal, Truth and of God
Matthew 17:7
Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
Matthew 9:5
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
Luke 17:19
And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
John 11:23
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
Luke 7 we will all know.
13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”
14 Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,”
He said, “I tell you, rise up!”
15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak!
Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Consider what Jesus would see in the Ascension.
To go from the cross
To the Ascension
Something we cannot really even imagine
Glimpse of Heaven to climb out of a storm,
and the airplane suddenly is free of the Storm
and Sunlight and blue for as far as the eye can see.
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About 1981, I was a student at Texas A&M and bright, shiny new. An Aggie does not lie, cheat or steal
nor tolerate those who do. I spent wonderful days smiling. Years.
My Sophomore year: Our Canterbury Priest encouraged me to take Egyptian History with a Professor friend. Who opened up the class by saying the Ascension was a myth because all Pharaohs ascended. He went on to say this is the slave culture of Jews to want to leap ahead of their slavery owners. Interesting, because Jeremiah Chapter 16 speaks of Jews saying they are from the south, but were never, ever slaves in Egypt. Nope. Nada. Jeremiah records the waywardness before the Babylonians would destroy and enslave Judea. Their attitude wanted history to change and to write their own history. Leaving God. And I raised my hand because my Priest and this Professor were friends, been referred to the class, to ask how the cultural generations would pick this up again. And was lambasted up one side and down the next.
Next Wednesday at Canterbury College Station, our Happy Priest, smilingly, asked me how the class went. Not so good, and I gave our Priest the conversation --- HELD IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE CLASS. End of Smiling Priest, who told me to give the class another go and things would go better.
I said the deadline for drop add is approaching. I determined this would improve. Next class...Oh, fires of hell, it did not improve. And I ran for the drop add building. Outta that. But, perhaps, that is what made me remember so well about Pharaohs ascending.
(I was told later, the Professor actually was a strong Christian and I should have stayed. Well.)
Fast forward, about 25 years, I was taking a Ray Vander Laan bible study on the Exodus. And suddenly Ray Vander Laan is telling us:
The Mishkan Tent of the Dwelling....
is the exact replica of the Pharaoh's tent
arranged as if he is traveling
or going to war.
WHY?
The Children of God knew that the God of Abraham and Isaac was for them.
But there was not a Scripture. And they had no idea of His Name.
Slaves are oppressed, they know what information they can gather. And they knew Egypt was the greatest power on earth, so what man alive would be close to God Himself?
The Overwhelming Grace of Jesus as Grace upon Grace being God's Nature.
God would allow His Own Tent of Dwelling to be patterned after a mere pharaoh. Because the Children of Israel would understand the Power and Royalty of their Savior. This is a foreshadowing of God moving and dwelling with us in Jesus Christ.
We watched the travel conditions of the 600,000 men, not counting women and children, who were walking the desert. Dee turned to me and said, this has made me sad, desperately sad for a week. I always thought I'd be one of the good guys and not create a fuss during the Exodus. But now, having seen the desert, I'd want to go home. And being comfortable wouldn't be bad. I feel Terrible. I would hate, hate, hate being in the Desert of the Exodus.
Dee makes a valid point for every day of our faith journey. "Why? GOD!"
We have faith because... God loved us first, best and always. And we understand His Love. His Grace, His Mercy and begin again in faith.
Why the Ascension? Why?
Dee explained to me the Ascension. Jesus is Alive.
And until the Holy Spirit arrived, Jesus did not want His Beloved to feel deserted.
Jesus had Great Reason for the Ascension.
John 5:17
In his defense, Jesus said to them,
“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”
Abba, Father,
Dwell in me,
Live, move and have Your Being.
Fill and Dwell those I Love.
Help us in Your Grace upon Grace
to Seek You First
And in Jesus Christ, we will finish well.
The Highest Name is Jesus Christ,
we ask in Your Son's Name,
Amen.
He has the
Whole World
in
His Hands.
brother
in
His Hands.
He has the Fullness of the earth
in His Hands.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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