Lesson Twenty Nine
JESUS RETURNS TO HEAVEN
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Memory Verse: Acts 1:11
Further Study: Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11; The Desire of Ages, pp. 818-835; Acts of the Apostles, pp. 25-34, The Bible Story, vol. 9, pp. 182-192
My oldest daughter got married, left on her honeymoon, and then returned to our house for one night before leaving for her new home in Michigan. The morning after their return, she and her husband were up early, packed the car, and within what seemed an amazingly short time settled into their car. I have never forgotten that morning. I stood on the step outside our front door, watched their happy faces, shining eyes, clearly in love with each other and ready for their new adventure. I watched their car as long as I could driving down our street until it turned the corner. They never looked back.
They never looked back.
The disciples gathered around Jesus as He gave His last words of counsel to them. Slowly He began to rise into the clouds, growing smaller and smaller as they watched until He was gone. Two angels appeared and asked, almost as a reproof, “Why are you standing here looking up?” Jesus was entering His new phase of ministry in heaven. He had work to do and had left. But the angels reminded the disciples that they, too, had work to do—a new phase of ministry—a transition from hearing and learning to sharing and building.
Even as I write the memory of my daughter’s leaving, I still feel the ache that comes with parenting and transition. Some of us mourn the baby that becomes a preschooler. Some mourn the first day of kindergarten or the day our teenager gets their license. It might be dropping your child at boarding school or college. Or like me, the day they leave home for a new life with their spouse. If we’re honest, we really don’t want our children to stay babies or not become independent or not find someone to love and build a life with, but transitions for them mean ones for us as well.
Transitions for them mean ones for us as well.
The question the angels asked is one asked of us: “Why are you standing here?” Transitions in parenting are inevitable but they shouldn’t cause us to become bewildered or surprised as our children move steadily away from and independent of us. Let us not only encourage and rejoice in our children’s growth and maturity, but also embrace their newly discovered understanding of how they might, apart from us, follow Jesus. Then let us also recognize that as they mature God is opening opportunities for us to find other ways to work for Him as well.
Transitions are never easy, but when they are embraced, we, like the disciples, will be renewed.
Digging Deeper
There are several interesting details about the ascension of Jesus in Acts 1:
- Note in verse 4, the reference to the Trinity: Jesus tells the disciples about the promise of God the Father, to send the Holy Spirit.
- Verse 3 speaks of “infallible proofs” of the resurrection. Verifying the resurrection was important to refute the myths and lies circulating that Jesus either did not die or He was never resurrected. Some of these are:
a. Eating and drinking with the disciples (Luke 24:41-43; John 21:4-13)
b. Thomas was invited to touch His body (Matthew 28:5-9; John 20:27)
c. Jesus appeared visibly to multiple individuals after His resurrection (Matthew 28:7, 10, 16, 17; Luke 24:36-48; John 20:19-29; 1 Corinthians 15:6) - While the disciples were still uncertain as to what all this meant, when they asked Jesus about His coming kingdom, He didn’t answer them directly. But he did answer this:
a. How? They would accomplish their task with the help of the Spirit.
b. What? They were to witness to others.
c. Where? They were to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.
Making it Real
The resurrection and promise of Jesus’ return is critically important to our faith. What does it mean to you personally? Think about this during the week and create a list. If your family meets for worship, explain to children why learning about Jesus’ dying isn’t enough. He must be resurrected. How do your children find this meaningful?
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Merle Poirier writes from Silver Spring, Maryland, where she works as the operation manager for Adventist Review and Adventist World magazines as well as the designer for KidsView, a magazine for 8-12-year-olds. She enjoys spending time with her family including being a grandmother to two active little boys, who greatly enjoy Starting With Jesus, and a granddaughter, who’s delighting everyone with her smiles. She is blessed to have all three living close by, continually bringing joy and delight.
