Joyfully Expecting!નમૂનો

A joyful farewell!?

“While He [Jesus] blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:51-52 ESV)

Jesus' birth caused great joy. During His life on earth, He was a blessing to countless people. No wonder His followers were incredibly sad when He died. But when He rose from the dead three days later, their joy had no limits!

So far, I completely understand the emotions described. But then we read something remarkable. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus said farewell to His disciples. He returned to heaven. One would expect His followers to stand looking after Him sadly, seeing their dreams go up in smoke. But Luke writes: “They returned to Jerusalem with great joy.” (Luke 24:52 ESV) How is that possible?

The answer lies in a promise: Jesus would send His Spirit and one day return Himself to complete His kingdom. So the farewell was only temporary, an intermediate step toward a glorious future. Moreover, Jesus' ascension was clear proof that His mission on earth had been successful. Now, He could take His place on His throne in heaven. A glorious moment that also filled Jesus' disciples with great joy!

Even now, Jesus is still in heaven. Does He feel far away or close to you?