Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Acts 1:9-11

Here are three thoughts about the Lord’s ascension into Heaven.

First, He ascended bodily directly into Heaven. He didn’t do this bypassing death as did Enoch (Genesis 5:22-24) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). Jesus had already died while on the cross. Then He rose from the dead, bodily (not just spiritually) and that resurrected physical body ascended directly into Heaven. Isn’t it interesting that Luke uses so few words to record this momentous event!

Second, He did this in plain view of eye witnesses. Luke records this event, not from Jesus’ perspective, but from the perspective of the onlooking disciples who were there and saw it happen.

Third, angels were present at this event, and they said something of great value. They asked the disciples why they were gazing up into Heaven. The answer to the question is obvious! Jesus lifted off the ground and ascended up, up, up, until out of sight—into HeavenI I think we would have all stared in amazement, don’t you?

But the angels followed instructing them (and us) that Jesus would come back “in like manner as you saw Him go to Heaven.” That is an important promise that speaks of another essential doctrine of the Christian faith, namely: the Second Coming of Jesus. Jesus came from Heaven. He ascended back into Heaven. And He will come again from Heaven.

Let’s think more about that next time…