Today is a very special day for Christians as they remember from the Bible that after he had risen from the dead, Jesus did what he told his disciples he would do and he returned to heaven.

 

The Ascension of Jesus (Acts Chapter 1, verses 1-11)

The disciples (special friends of Jesus) had been very sad when Jesus died on the cross, but when he came back to life again, they were overjoyed. For the next 40 days, Jesus spent time with them and his other friends, eating with them, walking with them and even cooking for them. At one point, Jesus even appeared to over 500 people at once!

Jesus told his disciples many special things during their times together. He told them that he was going to go back to his Father in heaven and that he would send the Holy Spirit to help the disciples. However, none of the disciples really understood what he was talking about.

One day, Jesus took his disciples up a hill called the Mount of Olives and said to them, ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

After Jesus had said this, he rose into the air and a cloud hid him from sight.

The disciples stayed gazing up into the sky, amazed by what had just happened. Suddenly, two angels appeared to them and 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 one day come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’

The disciples returned to the room in Jerusalem where they had celebrated the Last Supper with Jesus a few weeks earlier.

Time to reflect

Christians believe that Jesus was alive when he went to heaven. This means that he is still alive today.

For ten days after the Ascension of Jesus, the disciples hid in the upper room in Jerusalem. Then, something amazing happened: Jesus kept his promise to the disciples . . . but that’s another story!