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9th May 2024
ThursdayReflection
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Mary Nelson offers
Great Commission and Ascension of Jesus
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After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus spent forty days with his disciples.
Before ascending to heaven, he gave the apostles important instructions on announcing the gospel to all people and making them followers of Jesus.
This is referred to as "the Great Commission".
An angel comforted the apostles by reminding them that just as Jesus rose into the clouds, he would someday come back to earth again.
During the forty days following his resurrection, Jesus gave many proofs to the apostles that he was alive.
He also told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait.
The Holy Spirit would be poured out in all his power.
This pouring out is called the "baptism of the Spirit".
When the Holy Spirit came, the apostles would receive special powers to teach and prove Jesus' power in ways they had never been able to before.
Today's story takes place at the Mount of Olives, at the conclusion of the forty days when the apostles met with Jesus.
Jesus gives the apostles his last instructions before being taken into heaven to return to His Father.
Jesus had been with these apostles for three years so watching Jesus rise and disappear into the clouds must have been awesome and confusing at the same time.
It seems the apostles stood motionless, looking up at the clouds even after Jesus had disappeared from sight.
Two angels appear and bring them back to the realisation that this was not a final goodbye.
They would see Jesus again someday.
Throughout his ministry Jesus had prepared the Apostles for this very day.
He had always known he would leave them and that they would carry on with sharing the Good News with others.
This was always his plan.
After his resurrection, Jesus spent forty days visiting with his followers.
He wanted to make sure they saw that he was not dead any more.
Jesus told them that they would have a very important job to do.
Jesus told the apostles to do this important job, sometimes called "The Great Commission".
"So go and make followers of all people in the world."
After Jesus told them these things, something very amazing happened.
Jesus began to float up.
He floated up into the clouds while the apostles were watching.
Soon, the clouds hid Jesus, and they could no longer see him.
People often call this event the "Ascension of Jesus".
Watching Jesus leave must have been very sad for his apostles.
While they were all looking up into the sky, trying to catch another glimpse of Jesus, two men dressed in white (probably angels) stood beside them.
These angels told the apostles that Jesus went up into the clouds and that someday (many years later), he would return to the earth on clouds again.
Now, the apostles understood.
Someday, they would see Jesus return to earth again to take his followers to heaven.
Someday, everyone who follows Jesus will see him again.
The apostles would miss Jesus, but Jesus had given them an important job.
They could go and tell everyone about how he rose from the dead.
They could teach people how to be followers of Jesus, too.
So the apostles went to Jerusalem and waited just as Jesus said.
They knew that everything Jesus said would come true.
><(((°>
Mary Nelson
I have a passion for equipping Christians with simple tools so that they can share God's Word with children in ways that will shape their worldview and guide them into a life-long faithful relationship with Jesus Christ.
Mission Bible Class began as a collection of my own writings and resources.
I have been teaching children's Bible classes for 40+ years. Yes, I am really that old!
Although I was born and grew up in Texas, USA, I have been blessed to serve in ministry in a number of places.
I was sent to New Zealand, where I had my first experience in full-time ministry.
I am a regular Bible class teacher for various age groups.
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