100. JESUS ASCENDS TO HEAVEN

"This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner".

Aim

To show how Jesus ascended to heaven and promised that he would return.

After Jesus rose from the dead, he spent forty days with his disciples, before being taken up into heaven to the right hand of God. During this time he taught them many things as he prepared them for the great work which lay ahead of them.

John 21; Acts 1:1-12

THE MIRACLE OF THE FISH: John 21:1-13

After Jesus' resurrection, the angels at the sepulchre had told the women to go and tell his disciples that Jesus would go before them into Galilee. There he would meet them on a mountain (Matt. 28:7,16).

A group of seven of the apostles, led by Peter, went down to the Sea of Galilee. "I go a fishing", said Peter and the others decided to go with him. But that night, although they worked hard, they caught nothing. At daybreak someone stood on the shore (it was really Jesus), and asked if they had caught any fish. They answered, "No". He suggested they try the other side. "Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find". So they cast their net and immediately it was so full they could not draw it in, but the net did not break. Suddenly John realised who the person on the shore was. "It is the Lord", he told Peter. They remembered that first time when they had caught a miraculous net-full offish (Luke 5:4-7). When Peter saw it was Jesus, he jumped into the sea and made for the shore. The other disciples followed in a little boat, dragging the heavy net behind them.

Jesus had a fire ready on shore and was already cooking fish. Happily they sat down to a meal offish and bread with their Lord.

It was at this time that Jesus turned to Peter, "Feed my sheep", Jesus told him. As Jesus had been the Good Shepherd, giving his life for his sheep, so the apostles must carry on the important work of feeding and caring for his flock. Peter proved to be a faithful shepherd, always remembering what Christ had done for him. He encouraged others also to "Feed the flock of God", knowing that "when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Pet. 5:1-4).

JESUS INSTRUCTS THE ELEVEN: Acts 1:1-5

During the forty days before Jesus was taken up into heaven, he appeared to many of his disciples. He spoke to the eleven of the things concerning the kingdom of God. No doubt he told them of the glorious time when Israel would be the chief among the nations, and he would sit upon the throne of David in Jerusalem, ruling over the whole world.

They must now wait in Jerusalem, for God would give them the power of the Holy Spirit to help them preach in his Name. After that, they were to spread the gospel into all lands, to people of all nations. "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved" (Mark 16:15-16). The word "gospel" means "good news". It is the good news about the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.

THE LAST MEETING: Acts 1:6-12

By now, the disciples were eagerly looking forward to the fulfilment of the things Jesus had spoken about. As they left Jerusalem and walked to the Mount of Olives, they asked him saying, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (v6). But Jesus answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power" (v7). God alone at that time knew the appointed time for Zion to be exalted. Meanwhile, when they had received the power of the Holy Spirit, their work was to preach the gospel, for they were to be his witnesses "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (v8).

JESUS ASCENDS INTO HEAVEN: Acts 1:9-12

When Jesus had finished speaking, he was suddenly taken up from their midst. As they stood there watching in amazement, a cloud took him from their sight. Still they gazed after him, not wanting him to leave them. Then they noticed two men standing by them in white apparel. They were angels, who had been sent to give them hope and encouragement. "Ye men of Galilee," they said, "why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven". What a wonderful hope is expressed in these worlds, for the angels clearly stated that Jesus Christ will return to the earth. He has ascended into heaven to the right hand of his Father, where he will remain until God sends him back to establish the kingdom. Encouraged by the angels, the apostles realised that there was no need of sorrow, for they knew that he was alive for ever and would watch over them and strengthen them. Joyfully they returned to Jerusalem to await the giving of the Holy Spirit, which God had promised to send to help them preach in his name.

LESSON FOR US

Not many years after Jesus ascended into heaven, many who had been looking for his return grew impatient. "Where is the promise of his coming?" they said (2 Pet. 3:4). Peter told those scoffers that God would certainly keep His promise to send Jesus back. For those who grow impatient or tired of waiting, "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night", Peter said (vv9-10). So he warned Christ's followers to be always watching and waiting, for Jesus will only surprise those who are not expecting him. If we are busy following the ways of the world, instead of doing God's will, the Lord will come and find us like those foolish virgins. How sorry we would be then and very ashamed. So let us take no notice of people who laugh when we tell them that Christ is coming soon. Let us show that we believe the angels' words that "this same Jesus" shall come again from heaven. Let us remember his own words of encouragement, "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev. 22:12). May he find us patiently working and waiting and studying God's Word, so that we shall go with joy to meet him.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

Though many people do not believe that Christ is going to come again, the Bible gives us very clear signs that his return is very near. We live in evil days and the wickedness of the world surrounds us, yet we can be very thankful that God has shown us those wonderful signs, just as Jesus gave his disciples signs that helped them believe.

Let us consider some of these clear signs.

• The return of the Jews to the land of Israel.

  • Because of their disobedience, God scattered Israel into all the nations of the world. The Jews were driven out of their land when Jerusalem was destroyed in AD70 and remained scattered and persecuted for more than 1800 years. The prophets who spoke of their scattering also said that God would regather them into their own land (Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 37:21-22). Jesus also said that Jerusalem would be "trodden down of the Gentiles" until the days just before his return (Luke 21:24).

  • In 1948 the Jews announced to all the world that Israel was once again a nation, dwelling in the land.

  • In 1967, Jerusalem once again came under the control of the Jews. It is now the capital city of the nation of Israel.

• Men's hearts failing them for fear because of the threat of terrible wars.

  • Jesus prophesied that before his return people would be fearful because of wars on every hand (Luke 21:25-26). The prophets spoke of world war in the Middle East (Joel 3:9-12). Russia would become a mighty power in the earth and come with many nations against the land of Israel (Ezek. 38:3-23; 14-16). God would gather all nations against Jerusalem for war (Zech. 14:2).

  • Threat of world war is very real to everyone today. Men speak openly about "Armageddon", which is indeed that great battle in the Middle East spoken of by the prophets (Rev. 16:16). The nations are piling up huge stocks of weapons, some
    of which could wipe out life on the earth altogether. How blessed
    we are to know that God will not let that happen, but will send
    His Son.

• Men shall be lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

  • The apostle Paul warns us of the wickedness that will be found in the world "in the last days" just before Christ comes. "Men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy ... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

  • What a true description that is of today's world, particularly in western countries, such as Australia, America and Britain. The shops have so much to offer us, that we can
    easily become covetous, always wanting something new, and not thankful for what we have. Children blaspheme the name of Christ as easily as adults. Teachers have little control over their students because those children are disobedient to their
    parents and to anyone in authority.

  • We must be careful not to fill up our time with the pleasures of the world, for then we will not have time to please our God.

• There shall be scoffers, saying, Where is the promise of his coming?

  • The apostle Peter showed that "in the last days" people would not believe in the return of Christ. They would look around them and say, "all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Pet. 3:3-4).

  • So people today are not interested to hear of Christ's return. They laugh at the idea. Peter goes on to give a warning to those who do look for his coming: "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless"

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

1. After Jesus rose from the dead, why did the disciples go to Galilee?

2. Who was the first to recognise Jesus on the shore?

3. What made the disciple sure it was Jesus?

4. What special work did Jesus say that Peter must do?

5. How long was Jesus on earth after his resurrection?

6. Finish the words of Jesus: "Go ye into all the world..."

7. What questions did the disciples ask Jesus about the kingdom?

8. From which mountain did Jesus ascend to heaven?

9. Who told the disciples that Jesus would come again?

10. Why were the disciples not sad this time when Jesus left them?

11. What must we do while Jesus is still in heaven?

Detailed Answers

12. Tell what happened at the lake of Galilee, when Jesus' disciples went there after his resurrection.

13. Tell what happened on the Mount of Olives, when Jesus was with his disciples for the last time.

Additional Answers

14. Tell briefly four signs which prove to us that the Lord Jesus Christ will soon return to the earth.