THE ASCENSION OF JESUS TO HEAVEN

Ascension Day is a special occasion in the Christian calendar. It is one of the four most important dates, coming after Christmas and Easter but before Pentecost. It marks the last appearance of Jesus to the disciples after his resurrection at Easter. Jesus had spoken to his disciples about what was going to happen to them and what he expected them to do. He was with them on the Mount of Olives when 'a cloud hid him from their sight' (Acts 1.9) and 'he left them and was taken up into heaven' (Luke 24.51).
This is what we call 'the ascension'. Although this is the last time the Bible records the risen Jesus being seen, it did not mark the end of his work.

There are a number of versions of what happened at Jesus' ascension in the New Testament.
St. Luke's gospel ends with it at chapter 24 verses 50 - 53.

  1. Why do you think the Apostles returned to Jerusalem ‘full of joy?’

You can read another version of Jesus' ascension in St. Mark's gospel atchapter 16, verse 9 - 20 to get a better picture of what the writer is saying.

  1. Why do you think Jesus first appeared to Mary of Magdala and not some of his disciples
  1. Why did Jesus then appear to his disciples who were weeping?
  1. What instruction did Jesus give to his disciples when he appeared to them

Read Acts of the Apostles 1:6-11

  1. Why did Jesus rise from the dead and appeared to his disciples for 30 days?
  1. Before Jesus rose to go to heaven which is called the Ascension, He said the Holy Spirit will come. Can you explain what the disciples understood about the Holy Spirit at this stage.
  1. When the disciples were staring into the sky at the Ascension of the Lord, who do you think the two men were who asked why they were staring into the sky? What did they mean when they said – ‘this same Jesus will come back in the same way.’
  1. Do you believe in heaven? Explain.
  1. If heaven exists, where do you think it is? What do you think it would be like?

Jesus' ascension tells of him, risen from his death at Easter, now going to heaven where he has an important place with God.

There he prepares a place for his followers and sends the Holy Spirit to his disciples.
You may have noticed that the different accounts of Jesus' ascension refer to him being 'taken', 'lifted' or 'carried' up to heaven.
At the time of Jesus people thought the earth was like a great table standing on pillars. Above the table was the 'firmament', a sort of dome containing the sky, sun and stars with heaven beyond that. Therefore it was natural for the writers to describe Jesus being 'taken' or 'carried' up into heaven.
('Sheol' was the area under the earth - literally the underworld.)

Draw and illustrate how people thought of the world being flat at that time, held up by pillar with the firmament of heaven (sky, sun, moon, stars, water) above separated from the ‘sheol’ below etc.

Activity One: Working out the date
Get a calendar with Easter Day and Ascension Day marked on it. Count the number of days from Easter Day to Ascension Day:
How many days are there?
Can you remember how many days there were between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?
Count them on a calendar - and remember not to count the Sundays
Ascension Day is always 40 days after Easter.

Activity Two: Symbols of the Ascension

Alpha & Omega
/ Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and thus refer to the eternal nature of Christ.
Rev. 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (NIV)
Season: Advent, Ascension Sunday

Illustrate the Ascension of the Lord with pictures and symbols