“Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things. 49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:44-49
“Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. 52 So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. 53 And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.” Luke 24:50-53 NLT
God our Father,
Promises, promises, promises. And You have kept them. Not all of them, but then we are learning to trust You for the ones to come, because You have been faithful in the past. Now the message of Your love is being preached to all nations. What a miracle that is! We personally have experienced our sins forgiven and the comfort and strength and power of Your Holy Spirit.
The ascension, mentioned in verse 51, is still celebrated 40 days after Easter and will be on Thursday 14th May 2026. So I been considering why it is so important to be recorded in Luke’s’ Gospel and again in His book of Acts. It officially ends Jesus time on earth being as a man and shows Him returning to the Father. It is the pause before He returns at Pentecost, this time available to all men equally by His Spirit. When he ascended they were filled with joy. Because they knew everything He had said was true, He was truly alive, and He was the Messiah.
We too need to have joy and believe. Jesus is seated at the Fathers throne and He is present with us by His Spirit (Hebrews 12:1-2). Sometimes I think I take Your presence, Holy Spirit, for granted but then when I worship and when I pray, Trinity hears and answers. And we believe the promise, You are with us by Your Spirit but Jesus is coming back one day just as the angel promised at Your Ascension (Acts 1:11). There will be an end to sin and death and a new beginning for those in Christ.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 16th November 2025
I remember the day this hymn made sense when I learned that Jesus was coming back! Am I ready?
Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
Once for favored sinners slain!
Thousand, thousand saints attending,
Swell the triumph of his train.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
God appears on Earth to reign.
Ev’ry eye shall now behold him,
Robed in dreadful majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold him,
Pierced and nailed him to a tree,
Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing, Deeply wailing,
Shall the true Messiah see.
The dear tokens of his passion
Still his dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To his ransomed worshipers;
With what rapture, With what rapture,
With what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars.
Yea! Amen! let all adore thee
High on thine eternal throne!
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom for thine own.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Everlasting God come down.
Lyrics: Charles Wesley.