We pray for the return of our lord and saviour. May it be soon.
Like Jesus resurrection, his ascension is another fundamental point of our faith. Throughout his ministry he mentioned that he would go away from them for a time. We know he did go into heaven as it is recorded in Acts chapter 1
when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which 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.
Like his resurrection, people also witnessed the fact and it was recorded for us to read. Jesus is now in heaven, where he listens to our prayers and acts as a mediator between God and man. He is our high priest, but unlike those on earth, he is eternal having offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
One interesting fact that many Christians choose to ignore is that Jesus didn't go to heaven when he died. In fact the Bible doesn't record anyone going to heaven when dead at all. Jesus went to heaven forty days after his resurrection, when he was alive. We know this because when talking to Mary in the Garden of Gethsemane he told her;
"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father” John 20:17
The only other record of anyone going to Heaven is Elijah, and he was taking up in a whirlwind, again the Bible tells us he was alive.
The Bible teaches us that those faithfully to God and Jesus will be resurrected to immortal life at his return, but that's the topic for next week.