Chapter 9: The Ascension

He led them out of Jerusalem one final time, to the Mount of Olives near Bethany.

The location was not accidental. This was the same slope where the story of that final week had begun. Now eleven men stood on the same hillside in silence, watching him for the last time.

Before he ascended, the disciples asked him a question.

DISCIPLES“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”— Acts 1:6

Jesus did not rebuke the question. He simply redirected it.

JESUS“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”— Acts 1:7-8

He lifted his hands and blessed them. And while he was blessing them, he was taken up. He was carried up into heaven and a cloud received him out of their sight. Just a blessing, still on his lips, as he ascended.

They stood there staring into the sky.

Then two men in white appeared beside them.

ANGELS“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.”— Acts 1:11

It was a promise with a direction — stop looking up and get moving.

They worshipped him and walked back to Jerusalem with great joy. The Scriptures had been fulfilled exactly as Jesus said. The Spirit he had promised was coming. They had been told to wait for it in Jerusalem. So they went and waited.