THINK TOGETHER.
What does Jesus do in Heaven?
READ TOGETHER.
Luke 24:50-53. 50And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and were continually in the temple blessing God.
Christians call this the Ascension. Can you say ascension (a-sen-shun)? To ascend means to go up. You might ascend the stairs. Or on a hike you might ascend up a mountain. After rising from the dead, Jesus went up. Not up the stairs or up the mountain, but up to Heaven!
Most Christians understand how important the birth of Jesus is, and the death and resurrection of Jesus too. But many Christians don’t think enough about how important Jesus’ ascension into Heaven is. Here’s why it is so important:
First, because when Jesus ascended into Heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit from Heaven to live inside the heart of every Christian. When Jesus went away, the Holy Spirit came, just like Jesus said he would. Now, everyone who trusts in Jesus receives the Holy Spirit as a gift from God. On Earth, Jesus lived WITH his disciples, and that was very cool, but the Holy Spirit lives IN his disciples. And that is way cooler. Why? Because from inside of us the Holy Spirit is making us like Jesus. And that’s good news!
Second, because Jesus ascended to Heaven, he is now ruling over all creation on Heaven’s throne AS A HUMAN. That’s right, Jesus is still a human being like you and me. And yes, he is still God too. But as a person he is ruling over creation just like Adam and Eve were supposed to do from the beginning of time. One day, all of us humans who have trusted in Jesus will rule alongside him over the whole universe. Are you a human being? That means that you are a prince or princess in God’s kingdom helping Jesus rule.
Last but not least, Jesus ascending to Heaven means that he is interceding for us. Interceding is another big word. It means that Jesus goes to God the Father for us, praying for us, confessing for us, and even singing about us. All in front of our Heavenly Father.
So, even though we miss having Jesus with us down here on earth, we can be so glad that we have the Holy Spirit in us, in our hearts, teaching us everything Jesus said, and making us more and more like him every day.
Because of Jesus we always have someone interceding for us before God.
With Jesus we can make disciples.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Listen to the song, Holy Spirit, I Believe by Kingdom Kids.
PRAY TOGETHER
Father, I know Jesus is with you, and by the Holy Spirit he is also with me. Thank you for letting him stand before you in my place every day, even when I sin. Amen.
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