ASCENSION DAY 2012

I have to admit a faux pas....  When I posted my brief note for yesterday I had in mind that it was Thursday.  It wasn't.  Today is!  When I awoke at 5:30 this morning it was with that realization.   I'd been anticipating Ascension Day, and in my moment of thinking I was almost to miss writing about it on the actual day, I jumped the gun.... Thankfully, I figured out how to repair the error...but in the spirit of honest communication, will report it nonetheless....

Today (for 2012)  is Ascension Day.  Not yesterday.  Yesterday was the anniversary of the final full day Jesus spent with His disciples before He ascended.

Reports of Jesus' appearances to His followers following His resurrection are limited for the forty days between  Resurrection and Ascension.

On Resurrection Sunday Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in the Garden just outside the tomb right after He was resurrected and Matthew reports that He appeared to other women at the tomb as well.

A Sunday appearance to Peter is referenced in Luke, though not explained.

That Sunday afternoon, He appeared to the two travelers on the road to Emmaus and during their +-seven- mile walk He explained the entire history of what was taught about the Messiah in the scriptures, but their eyes were not opened to see who He was until He sat down to eat with them at the end of their journey.

They quickly retraced their steps to Jerusalem to report that the stories of the women were true:  that Jesus had indeed been raised from the dead - and that He had appeared to them; and while they were explaining this, Jesus appeared in the midst of them, behind a locked door....

The only disciple not present at that appearing was Thomas, who declared he wouldn't believe unless He saw for himself.  The next time Jesus appeared, Thomas was there.

After that, Jesus appeared to seven of the disciples when they were fishing.

Next: to the eleven disciples together on the mountain in Galilee He had instructed them to go to.   Matthew's account of this in chapter 28 is interesting in light of all they had seen.   Verse 17 states,"When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted."  Really?  Even after seeing His nail-pierced hands and the hole in His side where the sword was thrust through Him?   Even after seeing him previously post-resurrection when He appeared behind a locked door? Strangely, it is comforting to me that their doubts existed and I am grateful they are reported.  When circumstances cause doubts to assail us, we have the testimony of their doubts being satisfied by His reality. 

Chapter 28:18-20 provides Matthew's report of Jesus' instructions that day:  "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (NIV)

And today - - 40 days after His resurrection - - on the day of Ascension, He appeared to those who were there to watch Him depart.  Their time together that day began in Jerusalem, with a time of instruction.

Luke 24, beginning at verse 44, states,  He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you:  Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."  


Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, "This is what is written:  The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  I am going to send you what the Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

And then He led them out of the city....

Luke's account continues in verse 50:  When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.  Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

And so began their 10 days of waiting.  The next big event in their lives would be at the Feast of Pentecost! 

Waiting with anticipation.

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Since I've recorded the Gospel accounts referencing Jesus' appearances following His resurrection, I will just note that there is another passage referencing His appearances during the time that elapsed between resurrection and ascension which are found in Paul's writings to the Corinthians, but not mentioned by the Gospel writers.  In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul reports that in addition to citing other appearances the gospel writers referenced, that Jesus also appeared to a crowd of 500, and to Jesus' brother, James....

Of course, at the end of that list he says Jesus also appeared to him - - but that was not before His Ascension.  Paul is the first of many people who have reported that Jesus has appeared to them visibly.  His personal witness to that is validated by the story of his conversion, on the road to Damascus.