The Mountain of Ascension

I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME, EVEN IF HE DIES, SHALL LIVE, AND WHOEVER LIVES AND BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER DIE.(John 11:25,26)

Learn this golden verse by heart and write it down three times. There are questions on the last page for you to answer. Please think, write and send us your answers.

Perhaps you have friends who would like to get a similar booklet. Tell them to write directly to us. Then we will send them one of the booklets in the series of the important mountains in the Bible.

The disciples of Christ realized that their Lord really died on the cross and that He saved all people from the wrath of God. Jesus’ followers also saw Him several times after His resurrection from the grave. The Lord, newly risen from the dead, appeared in the midst of the room, where the disciples were assembled. The doors had been locked for fear of the authorities who were searching for them. But Jesus encouraged His disciples to believe that He was alive and really present among them.

The disciples were happy when they saw and understood that their Lord was alive again. They hoped that He would now establish God’s kingdom on earth. They didn’t understand that their Lord was not preparing a political kingdom in our world but a spiritual one in heaven. But before this kingdom could come, Christ commanded His disciples to do many services in their neighbourhood and in the whole world.

What kind of kingdom was Jesus preparing for His disciples?

The disciples had accompanied Jesus about three years. They saw the many miracles and healing wonders their Lord had done. They knew that He was crucified and saw Him after His resurrection from the dead.

For that reason Jesus said to them: You shall be my witnesses.They had the privilege to tell everybody about what they had seen and heard from Jesus personally.

Why were the disciples able to be witnesses to their Lord?

Jesus knew that a paralyzing fear had overcome His disciples at that time. Therefore, He promised to send them an encouraging counsellor, the Holy Spirit, God’s Spirit to indwell them and strengthen them to preach the good news of salvation to all the people.

Jesus wanted His disciples to be strengthened with the Holy Spirit to accomplish a great outreach. For that reason He said: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to keep all that I have commanded you.

Jesus put a great responsibility upon His disciples. They would never be able to accomplish it by their own power. But Jesus assured them that when the Holy Spirit, another Counsellor would come, He would not only be with them, but dwell in them, and His promise to them was: I will be with you always, to the end of the world.

What promise did Jesus make to His disciples?

After that great promise, Jesus took His disciples from Jerusalem down to the Kidron Valley, passing by the garden of Gethsemane. Then they climbed up the Mount of Olives which is covered with olive trees.

That path was well known to the disciples because they had passed it many times with their master. But did they realize that they were crossing it with their beloved Jesus for the last time?

What is the name of the mountain which the disciples climbed with Jesus?

When they arrived at the top of the Mount of Olives, Jesus said farewell to His disciples because He intended to leave them now.

He raised His hands upon His disciples and blessed them with the blessing of the Son of God.

Then something extraordinary happened: Jesus rose slowly up to the sky in full view of His disciples and disappeared in a cloud and they could not see Him any more.

Where did Jesus the Lord ascend?

The disciples stood for a long time gazing up where Jesus ascended. They didn’t fully understand what had happened, but this was the fulfilment of Jesus’ previous saying: I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world again and going to the Father (John 16:28).

The disciples gradually understood that their Lord went back to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God, His Father.

Which place did Jesus take in heaven?

Suddenly the disciples heard a voice saying to them: Men of Galilee. They turned around quickly and saw two men standing near them dressed in bright white clothes. Two angels had come from God to help them to understand what had happened. They said, Why do you stand gazing at heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come back to you as you have seen him ascending into heaven.

Who talked to the disciples after Jesus’ ascension?

Do you believe that Jesus will come again? Yes, He will come back to us. Maybe you ask when He will come back? No one knows the date. Perhaps He arrives today or tomorrow or after some years. Only God knows the time of His Son’s return.

But when He comes again, all people will see Him. Those who love and believe in Him will be extremely happy. But those who have not believed in Him will be terrified and shocked, knowing that the last judgment is at hand. There is no excuse for them for they have refused Christ’s salvation which has been clearly prepared for them.

When will Jesus come back again?

The disciples were comforted when they heard the kind words of the two angels and praised God with all their hearts. They understood in a new way that Christ is alive, sitting at the right hand of His Father and mediating for them. He will never forget them. So they walked down the Mount of Olives joyfully and went back to Jerusalem.

Are you joyful because Jesus is alive and He knows you by your name and cares for you?

What was the happy knowledge that the disciples gained?

The disciples remained together in Jerusalem waiting anxiously for their Lord to fulfil His great promise and send the power of the Holy Spirit upon them. They entered daily into the temple, God’s house, praising and glorifying the Almighty for everything He had shown to them through the life of their Lord Jesus Christ.

Where did the disciples wait for the Holy Spirit?

Quiz 1

Send us the names of the mountains that are numbered on this map and are found in the booklets “Important Mountains in the Bible.”