Luke 24:50-53

Have you ever had to say a painful, permanent farewell to a good friend? The idea - though not the details - of such moments are often etched in our memories:

There is the end of the party, or the holiday, or the trip to the airport. Then shared reminiscences and small talk as you wait for the moment of departure to come. Then the moment is here, and there are frantic promises to keep in touch, a tearful embrace, perhaps a handshake, a final wave - and then your hand returns to your side, and they're gone. You know what it's like.

I wonder what those first pioneering followers of Jesus felt and thought as they said goodbye to Jesus for the last time. What we call the ascension was the last glimpse human eyes had of Jesus before he left for heaven. Today I want to consider why Jesus left us.

Jesus' last day

Jesus had earlier disappeared from his followers (v 31), but now he disappears for good. He blesses those with him, and "While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven" (v 51).

The way Luke tells it makes the ascension seem almost an anticlimax to the passion narrative. But what an experience it was! No sleight of hand here; no virtual reality technology; no cinematographic special effects. Luke fills in more details in his second volume (see Ac 1:6-11).

Jesus was not hauled up on a thin metal cable like a circus performer: there was no roof above this drama. He was not winched up into a waiting helicopter hovering silently above the clouds. Jesus rose from the dead, then he rose from the earth. He returned to heaven. People saw it. It changed their lives, and they changed the world.

Of the Gospel writers only Luke narrates the ascension (Lk 24:50-53; Ac 1:6-11). Luke 24 almost reads as though Jesus ascended to heaven on the evening of his resurrection, but Acts 1:3 indicates that 40 days of ministry lay between Jesus' resurrection and his ascension.

Jesus had earlier foretold that he would leave this world and go to heaven (e.g. Jn 6:62; 13:3; 14:2, 12; 16:5, 10, 28; 20:17). He presupposed it in his testimony before the Sanhedrin at his trial (Lk 22:69).

At the time this would have shocked people who thought about his words. Like most Jewish people, Jesus believed in the general resurrection of saints at the end of time (Mk 12:18-27; cf Lk 14:14). He believed in the immediate presence of believers with himself when they die (as witnessed by his words to the penitent thief on the cross, Lk 23:43 - "Today you will be with me in Paradise"). But belief in the resurrection of a single individual, and their ascension to heaven in advance of the general resurrection at Judgment Day was not something they taught you in Sabbath School or in the synagogue.

Those Jesus had raised from the dead still died and were buried, awaiting the general resurrection. Even Enoch and Elijah, both of whom miraculously went to heaven, had not died. But it evidently happened to Jesus. Luke records it in both volumes of the history he wrote for Theophilus. After witnessing the event, Peter mentions it when he preaches (Ac 2:33-35; 3:21; 5:31; cf 1:22; 1 Pet 3:22). Paul frequently alludes or refers to it (e.g. Eph 1:20; 4:8-10; 1 Tim 3:16). The writer to the Hebrews does the same (Heb 1:3; 4:14; 6:20; 9:24). Everyone was talking about it; the ascension was a well-established fact.

Let's put this amazing event in perspective. The first step in the process of the exaltation of Christ after his humiliation and death was, of course, his resurrection. The second step was his ascension 40 days later, when he left the conditions and limitations of earth and resumed his place with the Father.

The ascension involved geographical and dimensional change. It was not only a change of place but a change of state. Heaven is not in our universe: it occupies another dimension (at least, that seems to me the best way to describe it).

When Jesus left this world he left behind physical and psychological pain, opposition, hostility, abuse, insult, unbelief, unfaithfulness. In their place came the immediate presence and indescribable glory of God the Father (cf Php 2:9-11), and the faultless praise of millions of angels, and the experience of being in a place of utter beauty and truth and purity and holiness.

A permanent legacy

But the ascension tells us something else. When Jesus came to our world he was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb. That was the beginning of his incarnation - his adoption of human form or likeness.

When he left our world Jesus did not discard his human body as a snake sheds its skin. When Jesus became a human person, it was forever.

When I was senior pastor of Blakehurst Baptist Church, the church made some major changes to its constitution, and I was asked to completely rewrite the statement of beliefs to which members assent. It's a task I loved, and I am pleased with the outcome (so were the members!). When it came to writing a concise and biblically accurate sentence about Jesus, I wrote that he "is the eternal Word of the Father who was born of Mary, combining perfect deity and true humanity in eternal unity."

Think about it: the eternal God in a human form forever. That's how much God loves you. That's how far Jesus has gone to rescue you.

For Jesus, the ascension also introduced a new experience: universal dominion or rule, on the basis of his victory on the cross, until his dominion is "reabsorbed" into the universal and eternal dominion of the Triune God (1 Cor 15:24-28).

But from our perspective, why did Jesus have to leave our world? Could he not have stayed, converted the nations and ruled in glory - as one day he will? Why did he have to leave us?

There are at least seven reasons why Jesus had to ascend to heaven after his resurrection. First, he ascended to indicate that his mission is accomplished (Lk 19:10; Mt 20:28).

Second, he ascended to sit down at the right hand of his Father - the place of honour, distinction and power (Mt 26:64; Ac 2:33-36; 5:31; Eph 1:20-22; Heb 10:12; 1 Pet 3:22; Rev 3:21; 22:1). His saving work was finished.

Third, he ascended so that the Holy Spirit might come (Jn 16:7; Lk 24:45-49; cf Jn 14:12).

What seems at first strange is that, instead of expressing sorrow and shedding tears on seeing him disappear, his followers worshipped and experienced great joy.

They knew their God had gone, but he remains with them and their joy is full. He had been with them; now he will be within them.

Fourth, he ascended to demonstrate his new role as our forerunner or pioneer: a human person making the ultimate journey from earth to heaven (Heb 12:2), knowing that millions of women and men would one day follow in his wake.

Fifth, he ascended to prepare a place in heaven for us (Jn 14:2-3). Heaven is our home, and Jesus is making it ready for our permanent residency.

Sixth, he ascended to allow the church, by faith, to share the Good News with the nations (Mk 13:10; Mt 28:19-20). I doubt that I will ever understand it, but the amazing truth is that God has put world evangelisation in your hands and mine. It's our responsibility. You and I are Christ's ambassadors. In a very real sense, the eternal destiny of your family and friends depends on the quality of your life and the degree of risk you are willing to take to introduce them to Jesus.

Seventh, he ascended to demonstrate that our destiny lies beyond this world (Jn 18:36). Just as Jesus ascended to heaven, so shall all his followers. His return for us, and our life with him, is our glorious hope.

Who is your lifeline?

As I conclude, let me ask you: is Jesus your hope? Is he your lifeline? You are probably familiar with the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and the "lifelines" each contestant can use when they are not sure of the answer to a question. The "lifelines" are just like the way many people deal with life's ultimate questions.

Phone a friend: Some of us do what our friends do, and think what our friends think, and we're counting on them to get it right when it comes to issues of ultimate truth.

Ask the audience: Some of us find it easiest to accept the majority view. If new religious movements are in, I follow them. If my culture says football is God, then football it is. If 60 per cent of Australians reject the Bible, I reject the Bible.

50/50: Other people just hope fate will smile on them and they will make it to heaven. They think they probably have a 50/50 chance - of heaven existing, and of them being admitted.

What's your lifeline? Jesus is in heaven today, whispering into your soul rumours of hope and echoes of divine love, and saying to you, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (Jn 5:24).

Are you a true believer? Are you ready to believe today? Have you crossed over from death to life? Will you cross over today?

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E125 Copyright (c) 2003 Rod Benson. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: New International Version (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1980). To talk with Rod about this message, email or write to P.O. Box 1790, MACQUARIE CENTRE 2113 AUSTRALIA. To subscribe, email with "subscribe-river" in the subject. To unsubscribe, type "unsubscribe-river" in the subject.