He Was Taken Up

We are in the season of Ascension, what a glorious season to remember that awesome moment in which Jesus was “Taken Up” into the Heavens as a cloud received Him!  It is true! There were many “Witnesses!” In fact some of Jesus last Words were: A Commission to us; “Ye shall be Witnesses! This thought arises in my mind: Why, after hundreds of years, is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the Ascension still celebrated, still talked about, it is in the dictionary, and even on the Calendar??  WHY? Because there were “Eye Witnesses!”  These are Jesus own Words from Luke 24:48 ─ “Ye are witnesses of these things.”  Forty Days Jesus was present in the earth after His Crucifixion, leaving infallible proof that He came forth triumphant from the Grave! On the fortieth day Jesus took His disciples as far as Bethany and there He gave them this Prophetical Word: “Wait for the Promise of the Father, … ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:4-5 As Jesus concluded this powerful statement of the “Coming Holy Ghost,” again He stated “Ye shall be witnesses of Me … and unto the uttermost part of the earth!” Vs8. Then the Ascension occurred, one more infallible proof … right before their eyes He was “Taken Up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Angels attended this awesome event and declared to the amazed disciples as they gazed upward; Vs11 “Ye men of Galilee, 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.”  O what a glorious Celebration! Jesus was “caught up” into the clouds into Heaven to take His position at the Right Hand of the Father, where He would continue to intercede for us.  This is our Comfort, He will come again even as He left … I love the Prophetical Word of God! The Ascension of our Messiah is seen in the Psalms. The Psalmist writes [68:18-19] under the direction of the Spirit of God – “Thou hast Ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received Gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our Salvation. Selah. Because of Jesus’ Sacrifice for us, we have received Gifts from Heaven, Eternal Life, Holy Spirit, and the Comfort of God among many Gifts! Vs19 God loads us with benefits daily!  Happy Ascension!  Loving you, Pastor - 1 Thes. 4:16-18