Acts 1:6-11
So when they were together with him, they asked, “Lord, is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said these things, he was taken up while they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as he went away. Suddenly, two men in white clothes stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Dear Lord Jesus,
Your ascension was a great event that should be celebrated with the likes of Christmas and Easter. That day you returned to heaven. What does this mean for us? You came to earth because of our sin. You carried out the plan of salvation by your choice, allowing yourself to be born in Bethlehem to Mary. You humbled yourself, limiting the use of your godly powers, setting them aside to live under God’s law, which you did without a flaw or sin. You conquered our sin and defeated death—your humiliation was over. You were exalted in your resurrection, which meant the unlimited use of your divine power. Your ascension means you have no limitations—earth, heaven, time, space, or any part of creation restricts you. So you are with us no matter where we are located. We don’t have to trek to Jerusalem, to someplace to see you; we can offer you our prayers, concerns, and thanksgiving no matter our location. Your ascension also means that we should always be ready because we never know when our time of grace will end or you will return for your second coming. Thank you for sending us your Holy Spirit to create faith in us and trust in the forgiveness you have won. You gave the disciples instructions to be your witnesses to the ends of the earth. We pray that you would grant us a spirit like the disciples to share the good news of your love and forgiveness with everyone. So, they will know, trust, and believe in you, knowing you are with them wherever they might be and knowing that through you, they have salvation. Lord, thank you for saving us through your life and death; let your love inspire us to get to work. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
In Jesus’ exaltation, he is unbound by space and time; in him, there is no limitation to where or what he can do; this means even your sin, which might seem atrocious, he has overcome that, too.