The Ascension
Following the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, and before his ascension into heaven, Jesus appeared "in the flesh" to hundreds of disciples. I found it interesting that of those who were closest to Him during the ministry, it seemed that the women more quickly and readily embraced and believed His resurrection than the men. John, a probable exception. [my opinion]
Act 1:2-3 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. (3) To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Poor Thomas, he was not there the evening of the First Day of the Week, the day of resurrection. Thomas so needed the physical, tangible proof that Jesus had indeed risen from the grave.
Joh 20:27-29 Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." (28) Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" (29) Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
And so it remains with us, you and me. It is our faith that grants us our personal vision of the Living Christ. We each see Him through the grace that God has so wonderfully granted us.
Act 1:4-5 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; (5) for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
The evening of the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the TEN behind locked doors. (Judas Escariot and doubting Thomas were absent) The Lord breathed on them the Holy Spirit in order to prepare and fit them for the miraculous in-filling of the Holy Spirit, that being the extraordinary events that would take place on the Pentecost, just days away.
The promise of Jesus and our Father will be delivered on that day as all future believers on the Christ will be filled physically with the Holy Spirit that will indwell them and be their spiritual guide and counselor. The sentence of death that Adam received so long ago, and carried in us, has been vacated through the blood of Christ.
Act 1:9-11 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (10) And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. (11) They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven."
Luk 22:69 "But from now on THE SON OF MAN WILL BE SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND of the power OF GOD."
HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?
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