“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
We’ve spent this week walking through Jesus’ last few days before leaving earth, which finally happens in today’s verse. It’s Jesus’ last in-the-flesh miracle. Theologians call it “the Ascension.” To me, it sounds like flying. And that’s cool.
Technically, we’re told Jesus was “taken up,” so maybe he wasn’t the one doing the flying. Either way, he added gravity to the list of natural laws he had effortlessly broken to make the point that he is, in fact, the Son of God.
So where did Jesus go? Peter saw the disappearing act with his own eyes and later said this about Jesus’ next stop: “Jesus Christ . . . has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” (1 Peter 3:21-22)
So what does he do? Well, here’s one thing: “Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)
That’s where our Lord is right now – but it’s not the end of the story. Tune in tomorrow.
Think: What surprises you about how Jesus made his exit from earth? How much more seriously would you take his words in verse 8 if he instantly flew into the sky after saying them?
Pray: Thank God that your Lord is right now sitting in heaven at God’s right hand interceding for you.
Do: Read and ponder Acts 1:8 again, Jesus’ last words to his disciples before disappearing into that cloud.