{"id":90849,"date":"2021-03-12T17:44:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-12T22:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/ascension\/"},"modified":"2023-10-07T21:47:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-08T01:47:25","slug":"ascension","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/ascension\/","title":{"rendered":"Ascension"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Acts 1:3 \u2013 \u201cTo whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many\ninfallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things\npertaining to the kingdom\n of God\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>What is the meaning and importance of the ascension\nof Jesus Christ?&nbsp; <\/strong>To discover the Biblical\nanswer, we turn to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Historical Context: Written between 61-64 A.D., The book of Acts does not\nspecifically identify its author. From <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Luke%201.1-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Luke 1:1-4<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%201.1-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acts 1:1-3<\/a>, it is clear that the same\nauthor wrote both Luke and Acts. The tradition from the earliest days of the\nchurch has been that Luke, a companion of the apostle Paul, wrote both Luke and\nActs (<a href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Colossians%204.14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colossians 4:14<\/a>; <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/2%20Timothy%204.11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2 Timothy 4:11<\/a>).&nbsp; The book of Acts was written to provide a\nhistory of the early church. The emphasis of the book is the importance of the\nday of Pentecost and being empowered to be effective witnesses for Jesus\nChrist. Acts records the apostles being Christ&#8217;s witnesses in Jerusalem,\nJudea, Samaria,\nand to the rest of the surrounding world. The book sheds light on the gift of\nthe Holy Spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our Counselor.\nReading the book of Acts, we are enlightened and encouraged by the many\nmiracles that were being performed during this time by the disciples Peter,\nJohn, and Paul. The book of Acts emphasizes the importance of obedience to\nGod\u2019s Word and the transformation that occurs as a result of knowing Christ.\nThere are also many references to those that rejected the truth that the\ndisciples preached about the Lord Jesus Christ. Power, greed, and many other\nvices of the devil are evidenced in the book of Acts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Grammatical Usage: &nbsp;\u201cShew\u201d in the Greek is \u201cparstemi\u201d which means\n\u201cto present and be present \u2013 He stood Himself by their side\/in their presence\u201d;\n\u201cseen\u201d in the Greek is \u201copto\u201d which, translated, means \u201cto see; look at; in the\npassive to be seen; to be visible.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Literal Application: In\nthe presence of whom He took His place, alive, after His death and (presented)\nmany empirical proofs, throughout a forty day period, by being seen by them and\nby speaking of the things about the Kingdom\n of God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Contextual\nInterpretation: Jesus was no ghost, although His disciples at first thought\nso.&nbsp; This is why \u201cby many infallible\nproofs\u201d was specifically included within the text.&nbsp; The hallucination theory (that Jesus\u2019\npost-resurrection appearance could be explained as a psychic phenomena) was\nanticipated and immediately debunked by the author by adding that these\nappearances occurred between the beginning and the end of a period of 40\ndays.&nbsp; The disciples not only saw,\nhandled, fished and ate with Jesus, but they also heard Him telling them more\nabout the Kingdom\n of God.&nbsp; Note that in His last instructions to them,\nJesus said nothing more about the Kingdom\nof Heaven, but He told them to go and\npreach the Kingdom\n of God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n<li>Scriptural Comparison: After Jesus rose from the dead, He &#8220;presented Himself alive&#8221; (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%201.3\" target=\"_blank\">Acts 1:3<\/a>) to the women near the tomb (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Matthew%2028.9-10\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew 28:9-10<\/a>), to His disciples (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Luke%2024.36-43\" target=\"_blank\">Luke 24:36-43<\/a>), and to more than 500 others (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/1%20Corinthians%2015.6\" target=\"_blank\">1 Corinthians 15:6<\/a>). In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%201.3\" target=\"_blank\">Acts 1:3<\/a>). <br> Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus and His disciples went to Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem. There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come. Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven. The account of Jesus&#8217; ascension is found in <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Luke%2024.50-51\" target=\"_blank\">Luke 24:50-51<\/a> and <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%201.9-11\" target=\"_blank\">Acts 1:9-11<\/a>. <br> <br> It is plain from Scripture that Jesus&#8217; ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and visibly, observed by many intent onlookers. As the disciples strained to catch a last glimpse of Jesus, a cloud hid Him from their view, and two angels appeared and promised Christ&#8217;s return &#8220;in just the same way that you have watched Him go&#8221; (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%201.11\" target=\"_blank\">Acts 1:11<\/a>).<br> <br> <strong>The Ascension of Jesus Christ is meaningful for several reasons:<\/strong><br> <br> 1) It signaled the end of His earthly ministry. God the Father had lovingly sent His Son into the world at Bethlehem, and now the Son was returning to the Father. The period of human limitation was at an end (John 19:30).<br> <br> 2) It signified success in His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished (Matthew 24:34).<br> <br> 3) It marked the return of His heavenly glory. Jesus&#8217; glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Matthew%2017.1-9\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew 17:1-9<\/a>).<br> <br> 4) It symbolized His exaltation by the Father (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Ephesians%201.20-23\" target=\"_blank\">Ephesians 1:20-23<\/a>). The One with whom the Father is well pleased (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Matthew%2017.5\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew 17:5<\/a>) was received up in honor and given a name above all names (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Philippians%202.9\" target=\"_blank\">Philippians 2:9<\/a>).<br> <br> 5) It allowed Him to prepare a place for us (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/John%2014.2\" target=\"_blank\">John 14:2<\/a>).<br> <br> 6) It indicated the beginning of His new work as High Priest (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Hebrews%204.14-16\" target=\"_blank\">Hebrews 4:14-16<\/a>) and Mediator of the New Covenant (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Hebrews%209.15\" target=\"_blank\">Hebrews 9:15<\/a>).<br> <br> 7) It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%201.11\" target=\"_blank\">Acts 1:11<\/a>; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Daniel%207.13-14\" target=\"_blank\">Daniel 7:13-14<\/a>; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Matthew%2024.30\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew 24:30<\/a>; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Revelation%201.7\" target=\"_blank\">Revelation 1:7<\/a>).<br> <br> Currently, the Lord Jesus is in heaven. The Scriptures frequently picture Him at the right hand of the Father-a position of honor and authority (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Psalm%20110.1\" target=\"_blank\">Psalm 110:1<\/a>; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Ephesians%201.20\" target=\"_blank\">Ephesians 1:20<\/a>; <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Hebrews%208.1\" target=\"_blank\">Hebrews 8:1<\/a>). Christ is the Head of the Church (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Colossians%201.18\" target=\"_blank\">Colossians 1:18<\/a>), the giver of spiritual gifts (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Ephesians%204.7-8\" target=\"_blank\">Ephesians 4:7-8<\/a>), and the One who fills all in all (<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Ephesians%204.9-10\" target=\"_blank\">Ephesians 4:9-10<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">\n\nConclusion: God\ncan do amazing things through ordinary people when He empowers them through His\nSpirit. God essentially took a group of fisherman and used them to turn the\nworld upside down (<a href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%2017.6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acts 17:6<\/a>). God took\na Christian-hating murderer and changed him into the greatest Christian evangelist,\nthe author of almost half the books of the New Testament. God used persecution\nto cause the quickest expansion of a &#8220;new faith&#8221; in the history of\nthe world. God can and does do the same through us\u2014changing our hearts,\nempowering us by the Holy Spirit, and giving us a passion to spread the good\nnews of salvation through Christ. If we try to accomplish these things in our\nown power, we will fail. Like the disciples in <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Acts%201.8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Acts 1:8<\/a>, we are to wait for the empowering\nof the Spirit, then go in His power to fulfill the Great Commission (<a href=\"http:\/\/bible.logos.com\/passage\/niv\/Matthew%2028.19-20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Matthew 28:19-20<\/a>).\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Acts 1:3 \u2013 \u201cTo whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God\u2026.\u201d What is the meaning and importance of the ascension of Jesus Christ?&nbsp; To discover the Biblical answer, we turn to: Conclusion: [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[526,535],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Ascension - Grace Evangelical Free Church<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ascension - Grace Evangelical Free Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Acts 1:3 \u2013 \u201cTo whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God\u2026.\u201d What is the meaning and importance of the ascension of Jesus Christ?&nbsp; To discover the Biblical answer, we turn to: Conclusion: [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/ascension\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Grace Evangelical Free Church\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-12T22:44:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-10-08T01:47:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tony Raker\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tony Raker\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/ascension\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/ascension\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tony Raker\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/#\/schema\/person\/6785bcea471ae92fb3660d811c5c74ef\"},\"headline\":\"Ascension\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-12T22:44:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-08T01:47:25+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/ascension\/\"},\"wordCount\":1066,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keriritenour.com\/grace\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Issues &amp; 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