~~~ The Ascension of the Lord ~~~
~~~ Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 ~~~ Psalm 47 ~~~ Ephesians 1:17-23 ~~~
~~~ Matthew 28:16-20 ~~~
...why are you standing there looking at the sky?
...behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.
Those who witnessed the Ascension of the Lord
experienced a moment of disconnect with the present.
Their eyes were fixed staring into the sky, but Jesus was no longer visible.
The form of his presence which they had become accustomed to
was no longer evident.
He had returned to his rightful state of existence with the Father.
That day the disciples accepted their lives had been forever changed.
Fixing their eyes on heaven, the disciples came to understand
that the presence they longed for in the person of Jesus
would never leave them.
I will be with you...
Jesus is with us always...until the end of time.
We must release the old concept of what it means to have someone with you.
The Father gives to the Son all power in heaven and on earth.
When Jesus says,
"I will be with you always..."
He means it in a very real sense, even though we cannot see his face...
even though we cannot look into his eyes.
The day will come when we will come face to face with the Lord.
On that day there will be great rejoicing.
Now we must not stand motionless looking up to the sky;
we must go out and be living witnesses.
The day is near when we will experience
once again the baptism of the Spirit.
Living in the Spirit we are convicted that Jesus is always with us.
He will never abandon us.
Wherever you go he will be with you.
Blessed with anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The presence of the Spirit
is the promised presence of Jesus.
...Until the end of the age...
~~~Peace~~~
