The Majesty Of His Ascension

“After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9)

For the disciples who witnessed Jesus and His ascension back to Heaven, it was an event of majesty.


The King of Kings was returning to His rightful place in Heaven at the Father’s right hand.

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It Was A Heavenly Event.

It was supernatural.

The Lord Jesus had no problem overcoming the Laws of Nature while He ministered on earth.

He walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, and fed great multitudes of people with small amounts of food.

His ascension was merely another instance of His power as God.

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It Was A Holy Event.

A cloud hid Him from their sight.

His glory was waiting to reclaim Him!

His glory had been allowed to surface once on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-9).

He was received up into His glory once again!

The Mystery Of Jesus' Ascension

Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. (Acts 1: 6-7)

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The Apostles knew nothing of Jesus’ going away.

They thought He would establish His kingdom immediately.

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They weren’t alone in their belief.

No one anticipated the ascension of Jesus back to Heaven.

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It Was A Mystery To His Prophets.

The prophets knew nothing of this great event.

The Jews could not conceive of a Messiah Who would die on a cross.

They were expecting a King Who would reign in power and liberate the people of Israel.


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It Was A Mystery To His People.

While Jesus was ministering in the midst of His people, He spoke of His ascension on several occasions (John 6:62; 7:33; 14:28; 16:5; 20:17).

But none of the disciples understood just what He was saying.

They could not grasp the thought that Jesus would be going away.

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Jesus' ascension was a mystery to everyone!

The Time For Good Bye

Acts 1:9-12

The time of Jesus’ earthly ministry had come to a close.

He stood with His disciples on the Mount of Olives, just outside the city of Jerusalem.

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It was from this mountain that He had descended, on the back of a donkey, into Jerusalem for His triumphal entry into that city.

It was at the foot of this mountain that He gathered with His men in a place called Gethsemane to pray the night He was arrested.

It was from this garden that He had been taken away, arrested, tried and crucified by the Jews and the Romans.

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This was the time for “Good-byes”.

Jesus was getting ready to ascend back to Heaven from which He had come.

He was leaving His men behind.

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This must be an exceedingly difficult moment for His disciples.

They were about to watch the One they had loved, served and worshiped go away.

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They had been with Jesus through the good times and the bad times.

They had watched Him exercise the power of deity to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cause the lame to walk, the deaf to hear and the blind to see.

They had seen Him raise the dead, and walk on the water.

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Now, they were about to watch Him go away.

Surely their hearts were breaking as they listened to His final words and waited for the moment they would be parted from Him.

It was parting time.

It was time to say good bye!