Jesus' Return TO Heaven

Country/Pop recording artist Anne Murray sings a song entitled "Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye".  Goodbyes are among my least favorite experiences.  I can only imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus told them He was leaving them to go back to Heaven.  The One who had been their constant leader, teacher, companion and Lord for 3 years was telling them goodbye.  But, surprisingly, He said it was for their good that He was going away!   The actual event of His departure is called the Ascension.

It has proven very interesting to study the Ascension of our Lord. First, there is not as much scriptural detail as we have for His birth, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection.  Only two Gospel writers (Luke and Mark) record His earthly exodus and not all ancient manuscripts have Mark's account.  Luke also records the Ascension in Acts 1.  While John does not describe the Ascension in his gospel account, he does record Jesus stating several times that He would be going away.  From the Old Testament, we believe with Paul that Psalm 68 predicts this event. (See Ephesians 4.)

Second, Christians have consistently confessed their belief in Jesus' Ascension through the centuries as noted in their statements of faith found in the Book of Confessions.

Finally, though it was a goodbye, it was a GOOD bye.  There are several scriptural reasons this is so...He kept His Word, represents us in Heaven, is preparing a place for us, sent the Holy Spirit to us and is going to come back again!  Also, in light of our study of spiritual warfare, the Ascension exalts our Lord as the Victor over the devil, death and Hell!  What triumphant words "...the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens..."! (Ephesians 4:10)

See you Sunday!

1.  Who do we believe wrote Psalm 68?  Would he know anything about victory in battle? 1 Samuel 17:50, 51; 18:6, 7

2.   In quoting Psalm 68 in Ephesians 4:7-13, what are some actions of our victorious Ascended Lord according to the Apostle Paul?

3.   According to John 16:7, 8 what is good about Jesus' goodbye?

4.   Why do you think Jesus had to go away for the Holy Spirit to be sent?   Study John 16:7-14.

5.   At the Last Supper, what reason did Jesus give for leaving?  John 14:2

6.   What is the great news of John 14:3?

7.   According to Luke 24:51 what beautiful ministry was Jesus doing when He began to ascend?

8.   What response should we, like the disciples then, have toward our Ascended Lord? Luke 24:52

9.   In Acts 1:11 it is promised that Jesus' Second Coming will have similarities to His Ascension. Compare Acts 1:9-11 with Luke 21:27.

10. Read Mark 16:19.  This speaks of Jesus' exaltation for this week's sermon and next week.

11. Some consider 2 Timothy 3:16 an early hymn of the church.  Note the last phrase of the verse "was taken up in glory".  How does the word "taken" impact your appreciation for the Ascension?