Segment No. 184 -- Mk. 16:19-20; Lk. 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12

Title:  The Last Appearance and the Ascension

Lk. 24:50  And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.

Mk. 16:19  So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Lk. 24:51  Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into Heaven.
Acts 1:9  Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10   And while they looked steadfastly toward Heaven, as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,
Acts 1:11 Who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into Heaven?  This same Yeshua, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.”

Here again is something th needs explaining.  “Sitting at the right hand of God” is a Jewish idiom for Yeshua siting at a place of ultimate power.  It is not to be taken literally that God is siting on His throne and Yeshua is sitting at His right hand.  When you get into Heaven, you are not going to see two Gods up there.  “Hear, O Israel!  The Lord your God is One” (Deut. 6:4).

Lk. 24:52  And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
Acts 1:12  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

Lk. 24:53  And were continually in the Temple praising and blessing God.  Amen.
                                       
Right after Yeshua’s crucifixion the disciples closed themselves up in a room “for fear of the Jews,”which was understandable.  That was a very understandable dramatic time and they were face with confusion and doubt about the future.  That is no longer the case.  Now they are in the open public right in front of the very men responsible for Yeshua’s death, but they have seen something that has changed their lives forever – the ascension of Yeshua into Heaven.

Mk. 16:20  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.  Amen.