The Ascension
Luke 24, Mark 16, Acts 1.
Now as Jesus sat down to eat with the two disciples from Emmaus, that He asked God’s blessing on the food, and broke the bread and was passing it to them, when suddenly – it was as though their eyes were opened and they recognized Him. And at that moment He vanished from their sight.
They began telling each other how much they were encouraged as they walked with Him and He explained to them the Scriptures.
They decided to go back to Jerusalem. When they arrived the other disciples and other followers of Jesus greeted them with these words, ” The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon Peter.”
Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had walked with them on the road, and how they had recognized Him as He eating with them, and breaking bread.
As they were telling them about it, Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them and said to them, “Peace to you.”
But they were frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
And Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. “Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
Then He showed them the nail marks in His hands and His feet.
They were overjoyed and marveled. Then Jesus said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb, and He took it and ate in their presence.
Then Jesus said to them, ” These are the words which I spoke to you while I was with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”
And He opened their understanding so that they could comprehend the scriptures.
Then Jesus said to them, ” Thus it is written, and thus it is necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.
“And you are witnesses of these things. Behold I sent the Promise of My Father upon you; but stay in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with the power of the Holy Spirit from on high.”
Jesus said, ” You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus also said to His disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Whosoever believes and is baptized will be saved; but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Then Jesus led them out on the road to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Now as He spoke to them and blessed them, while they watched, He began rising in the sky, and a cloud received Him out of their sight, and He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
And while they kept looking up steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel.
And said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem, and worshipped Him, with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
