MARGIES BIMS

THE ASCENSION - ACTS 1:1-11***************

THE REPEATED APPEARANCES OF JESUS AFTER HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTON BROUGHT HIS FOLLOWERS SO MUCH JOY THAT THEY MUST HAVE WANTED THE VISITS TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY. BUT ON THE 40th DAY AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, HAVING GIVEN HIS DISCIPLES FINAL INSTRUCTIONS, JESUS SLOWLY ASCENDED AND A CLOUD HID HIM FROM VIEW.

JESUS COULD HAVE VANISHED INSTANTLY, AS HE HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY (LUKE 24:31). BUT HE CHOSE TO ASCEND VISIBLY TO IMPRESS ON HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THIS WAS THE END OF HIS VISITS. HIS BODILY PRESENCE WOULD SOON BE REPLACED BY "ANOTHER HELPER," THE HOLY SPIRIT PROMISED IN JOHN 14:16. JESUS ASCENSION MARKED THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA.

IN HIS GLORIFIED HUMAN BODY, THE LORD JESUS ASCENDED, ENTERED HEAVEN, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND NOW INTERCEDES FOR US. HE PERMEATES THE WHOLE UNIVERSE WITH HIS SPIRITUAL PRESENCE AND POWER.

AN ANCIENT WRITING SAYS THAT JESUS ASCENDED BODILY INTO HEAVEN "OUR ENTRANCE TO SECURE, AND OUR ABODE TO PREPARE." THAT'S TRUE. BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT AS GOD, HE IS ALWAYS SPIRITUALLY PRESENT WITH US AND WILL BE "TO THE END OF THE AGE" (MATT. 28:20). WHAT A WONDERFUL SAVIOR WE HAVE!

THE LORD ASCENDED BODILY
FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN'S THRONE;
NOW HE IS THERE TO INTERCEDE
FOR THOSE WHO ARE HIS OWN.

JESUS WENT AWAY SO THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD COME TO STAY. GOD BLESS US ALL WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT. I HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

HAVE A HAPPY, BLESSED DAY************
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