Lesson 50: The Ascension

Matthew 28:16‑20; Luke 24:46‑53; Acts 1:4‑14  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 4
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Matt. 28:16-2016Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:16‑20), Luke 24:46-5346And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And ye are witnesses of these things. 49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:46‑53), Acts 1:4-144And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 12Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. 13And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:4‑14)
JESUS used to come and see His disciples after He was made alive again. But He did not stay with them for long.
He told them He was soon going up to His Father. ‘When I am gone, you must tell people about Me. You must tell the people who crucified Me that I will forgive them if they will believe on Me. The Holy Spirit will come down from heaven, for My Father has promised to send Him down soon. Wait at Jerusalem till He comes. I will always be with you, though you do not see Me. Some day I shall come back again.’
The disciples asked Jesus when He would come back, but Jesus would not tell them.
One day Jesus and His disciples walked together to the top of a hill. Jesus began to pray with His disciples and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was doing this, He was taken up to heaven, and a cloud hid Him at last from the eyes of His disciples.
They still looked up and saw the cloud go higher and higher till they could see it no more. But still they went on looking. Then they heard some persons speaking to them. When they looked to see who it was, they saw two angels standing beside them.
The angels were dressed in white shining clothes. They said, ‘Why do you look so long at the sky? Jesus will come again someday.’ The disciples then went back to Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps you think they were very unhappy, now that Jesus was gone? No, they were not. They knew He had gone to get a place in heaven ready for them, and that they would live with Him there forever. This made them glad.
Questions
Can you tell me a verse about loving Jesus?
Did Jesus live always with His disciples after He was alive again, or did He only come to see them sometimes?
What did Jesus tell His disciples to do when He went back to His Father?
Did He tell them when He would come back?
What was Jesus doing just before He went away in the cloud?
Who spoke to the disciples as they were looking at the cloud?
Were the disciples unhappy when Jesus was gone?
Why were they not unhappy?
How Jesus left His disciples, after He had risen from the dead:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn:
And it came to pass, while He blessed them, He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Luke 24:5151And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:51).