Ascension Day ! The Essential Ascension of the Glorified BODY+ of our LORD and SAVIOR+, The RISEN JESUS CHRIST !
EVERYTHING
The LORD JESUS CHRIST said AND DID is essential --- extremely necessary --- for us to know WHO+ HE+ was , and is, and WHO+ HE+ will reveal HIMSELF+ to be
when HE+ comes again…. The ALMIGHTY ! Revelation 1:8
In the Greek, Ho PantokratOr ( The ALMIGHTY ) .
“As a designation for GOD as The ONE holding all power and ruling all things.” ~ Dr. Timothy and Barbara Friberg’s Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, p.293, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI , 2000.
As a matter of fact, “The Pantokrator” has NO VARIANTS in the Greek manuscripts containing Revelation 1:8 … which is a marvel in and of itself ! See Nestle-Aland’s Novum Testamentum Graece, 26th Ed., p. 633 at Revelation 1:8.
WHY
is HIS+ Ascension so IMPORTANT to our faith ?
His+ Ascension is CRUCIAL for HOPE!
Recall that The Risen LORD JESUS ascended to Heaven after …. yes, AFTER… having eaten broiled fish and honeycomb. At some point in time AFTER HE+ ate normal, earthly food that we eat, His+ Glorified BODY+ was taken up to Heaven in a cloud !
Here is the record of Him+ in His+ Glorified BODY+, eating!
Luke 24:36 And as they thus spake, JESUS HIMSELF+ stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them,
Peace be unto you.
Luke 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:38 And HE+ said unto them,
Why are ye troubled?
and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
LukE 24:39 Behold My+ Hands and My+ Feet, that it is I+ MYSELF+: handle ME+ and see;
for a spirit hath not flesh and bones,
as ye see ME+ have!
Luke 24:40 And when HE+ had thus spoken, HE+ shewed them His+ hands and His+ feet.
Luke 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered,
HE+ said unto them,
Have ye here any meat?
Luke 24:42 And they gave HIM+ a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luke 24:43 And HE+ took it,
and did eat before them!
Luke 24:44 And HE+ said unto them, These are the words which I+ spake unto you, while I+ was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning ME+. Luke24:45 Then opened HE+ their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved CHRIST to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: Luke24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luke 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I+ send the promise of My+ FATHER upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
THE ASCENSION
Luke 24:50 And HE+ led them out as far as to Bethany,
and HE+ lifted up HIS+ Hands,
and blessed them.
Luke 24:51 And it came to pass, while HE+ blessed them,
HE+ was parted from them,
and carried up into Heaven.
Luke 24:52 And they worshipped HIM+,
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
Luke 24:53 And were continually in the temple,
praising and blessing GOD . Amen.
YES ! AMEN ! After seeing our Loved One die… to see him resurrected and eating our EARTHLY FOOD …. and to see him taken --- body, as well as spirit and soul --- into the Heavenlies…
Just think:
WHAT GREAT JOY
AWAITS
THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS , the Risen CHRIST !
This is the JOY of the Ascension of CHRIST JESUS !
Amen and Amen.
