“He Was Lifted Up.” Acts 1:9-10
The disciples had been shocked, amazed and thrilled as Christ appeared resurrected from the dead.
Now after 40 days they were beginning to again gain confidence, comforted by this new normal of being at times in His presence. But what was to happen? On that day we now know as the Ascension Day, they once again were gathered with Jesus. They questioned Jesus if He was staying by asking, “Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Not answering their question, Jesus gave a promise and direction. “The Holy Spirit will come and give you power and you will be my witnesses.. to the ends of this earth.”
With His mission completed, Jesus now was ready to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house as He had promised. As they were looking on, He was lifted up. Staring into the sky, their focus was redirected to the reality at hand, as the angels questioned, “Why do you stand looking into heaven? Jesus will come in the same way you saw Him go into heaven.” As Jesus instructed them, they returned to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit and to be witnesses of Jesus.
Question: Right prior to Jesus ascending, He tells His disciples be His witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and where else?
Answer: Luke writes in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
