The Ascension - Jesus Returns to Heaven

During these forty days, Jesus explained many things to His followers. He helped them understand all the Scriptures - all the prophecies in the Old Testament that talked about Him! He showed them how everything from Moses' writings to the Psalms to the prophets was pointing to Him all along! "The Messiah had to suffer and die," Jesus explained, "and then rise from the dead on the third day. Now the message about forgiveness of sins must be preached to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem."

But Jesus also gave them an important instruction: "Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the gift my Father promised - the Holy Spirit! John baptized you with water, but in just a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit!" The disciples didn't fully understand what this meant, but they trusted Jesus.

One day, Jesus led His disciples out to a place near Bethany, on the Mount of Olives - a hill just outside Jerusalem. They had walked there many times before. It was a special place where Jesus often prayed. The disciples wondered what Jesus wanted to show them this time.

As they stood together on the mountainside, the disciples asked Jesus a question that was on their hearts: "Lord, are You going to free Israel now and restore our kingdom?" They still thought Jesus might set up an earthly kingdom right away and kick out the Romans who ruled over them.

But Jesus had different plans - much BIGGER plans! He said, "You don't need to know the times or dates that the Father has set. But you WILL receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you! And then you will be my witnesses - telling people about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth!"

Wow! Jesus wasn't just going to free one little country. He was going to send His followers to the WHOLE WORLD! They would tell everyone everywhere about Jesus and how He died and rose again to save people from their sins! This was much bigger than they had imagined!

Then Jesus lifted up His hands to bless them, just like a father blesses his children. And as He was blessing them, something absolutely AMAZING happened! Jesus began to rise up into the air! His feet lifted off the ground! Higher and higher He went, slowly rising up toward heaven!

The disciples stood there with their mouths open, watching in wonder and amazement! Their beloved Jesus was going up, up, up into the sky! He rose higher than the trees, higher than the hill, higher and higher until a cloud came and surrounded Him. The bright cloud hid Jesus from their sight, and He was taken up into heaven!

The disciples just stood there, staring up into the sky where Jesus had disappeared. They couldn't look away! Their eyes were fixed on the heavens. Where did Jesus go? Would He come back? What should they do now? They felt a mix of emotions - joy that Jesus had gone to His Father, but also sadness because they would miss seeing Him.

Suddenly, two men in bright white clothes appeared standing right beside them! These were angels - messengers from God! The angels said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven!"

What wonderful news! Yes, Jesus was going to heaven to be with His Father. But someday - SOMEDAY - He would come back! Just as they had watched Him go up into the clouds, one day they would see Him coming back in the clouds! He would return to earth! This wasn't goodbye forever - it was "see you later!"

The disciples finally understood. Jesus had finished His work on earth. He had lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and risen from the dead to prove He had conquered death! Now He was returning to heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father - the place of highest honor and power! In heaven, Jesus would be preparing a place for all His followers!

But Jesus wasn't leaving them alone! He had promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with them and help them. And even though they couldn't see Jesus anymore, He would always be with them through the Holy Spirit. He had said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age!"

The disciples walked back to Jerusalem with joy in their hearts! They weren't sad anymore - they were filled with worship and excitement! They went to the temple every day, praising God and blessing Him. They gathered with other followers of Jesus in an upstairs room, and they prayed together, waiting for the Holy Spirit that Jesus had promised.

About 120 believers gathered together - the eleven disciples (Judas was gone, but they would soon choose Matthias to replace him), Mary the mother of Jesus, other women who followed Jesus, and Jesus' brothers. They all devoted themselves to prayer, getting ready for what God was going to do next!

And you know what? Just ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in a powerful way, just as Jesus had promised! But that's another exciting story!

Jesus' ascension into heaven is so important! It shows us that Jesus completed His mission on earth. It reminds us that Jesus is now in heaven, ruling as King over everything! It gives us hope that Jesus is preparing a wonderful place for us in heaven. And it promises us that one day - maybe soon! - Jesus will come back in the clouds, and every eye will see Him!

When we feel sad or lonely, we can remember that even though we can't see Jesus with our eyes, He is always with us through His Holy Spirit. He sees us, He hears our prayers, and He loves us! And someday, we'll see Him face to face, just like the disciples did. What a wonderful day that will be!

Big idea: God is always with us and loves us very much!