Gravity Defied
Gravity Defied
Hollywood has perfected the act of film making. There are many movies where you see people rising above ground and flying away. The Superman movies have given us the best of Hollywood photo tricks. I do not know how they do it but it seems real only in the movies.
The ascension of Jesus is the only event of its kind that is recorded. After all, Jesus is the one that created gravity. It was not even the same as that of Elijah who was taken up to heaven by chariots. “As they (Elijah and Elisha) were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” 2 Kings 2:11). Let’s see the details as recorded by Dr. Luke who was the only one who gave the details among the four gospels. You know, as a scientist and a physician, Dr. Luke was very thorough and detailed in his gospel accounts.
Why was the ascension recorded for us? Are you looking forward to defying gravity someday?
Luke 24: 49-52
49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God”.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Jesus is giving his disciples the final instructions before he leaves earth for heaven. “Stay in the city until you have been clothed (endued) with power from on high”. In other words, don’t go running around in your own strength, wait till I give you my strength. The disciples obeyed as we can see in v. 53. We will cover this in full when we get into our next study of the second book of Dr. Luke (the book of Acts). For now, it is expedient that you and I do not go ahead of God but wait until He clothes us with strength for a particular purpose. What is God’s assignment for you? Make sure you are in the right “clothe” before you go. Remember Jesus had told his disciples that they will be his witnesses and preach repentance and forgiveness to all nations v. 48. The temptation is to run and start without receiving “power from on high”.
2. It was necessary that the disciples were present during Jesus’ ascension. Jesus never wanted to leave any doubts in their minds about his whereabouts after the resurrection. For one, people were already saying Jesus’ body was stolen from the grave and others were saying that he did not even die in the first place. The ascension sealed the deal and closed his physical chapter on earth. People are still giving the same excuse about the resurrection of Christ even till this day. Jesus said, there is even more blessing for those who did not see but believe (John 20:29). I want to be blessed by believing. How are about you. Don’t wait to see, it may be too late for you to believe after you breathe your last breath.
3. The ascension was necessary and it is tied to the instruction of waiting to receive power from on high. In John 16:7, Jesus said to his disciples, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you”. The Helper mentioned here is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. The Helper helps. Don’t you want help? I do. Wait for the Helper in all you do. I am tired of running in my own strength. I want you to help me Lord.
4. Jesus went up and sat at the right hand of God. Doing what? He is there praying for us and making intercession for us. He is there, “He (God) raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:20-23. We know for sure where Jesus is and what He is doing for us.
5. Jesus went up, as prophesied. “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”. Psalm 110:1. You see why the ascension is a big deal for us?
6. Jesus has also ascended to prepare a place for us. 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John14:1-4. Are you troubled? Relax and trust God. God will not foreclose on us. The banks will foreclose on us but not God.
7. It pays to obey instructions. 52”Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God” .The disciples were filled with great joy because they saw Jesus going up. Then the worshipped. We only worship what we know and are convinced of. Our praise will come from our conviction and not so much from a change in our circumstances. Our praise, worship and joy must come from obedience to what God has instructed us to do. We cannot manufacture these three things; joy (not happiness which is based on what’s happening), worship and praise. These are products of obedience. Are you short on any of these, please check your obedience gauge? It could be running empty. Are you staying as God have told you to stay (tarry) or are you on the run doing it in your own strength?
Are you waiting to defy gravity as Jesus did? I can’t wait. He said we will. 16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words”. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. Are you excited? Be encouraged and comforted. For now, wait to be clothed always with the “power from on high” – the Holy Spirit. Let’s not run on our own strength. “Tarry”! Let us spend time praying and hearing from God. I am learning to pray for any and everything no matter how big or small it is in my life. How about you? What are you troubled about right now? Pray and tell God about it. “Helper”, please help us Lord. Amen.
Hollywood has perfected the act of film making. There are many movies where you see people rising above ground and flying away. The Superman movies have given us the best of Hollywood photo tricks. I do not know how they do it but it seems real only in the movies.
The ascension of Jesus is the only event of its kind that is recorded. After all, Jesus is the one that created gravity. It was not even the same as that of Elijah who was taken up to heaven by chariots. “As they (Elijah and Elisha) were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” 2 Kings 2:11). Let’s see the details as recorded by Dr. Luke who was the only one who gave the details among the four gospels. You know, as a scientist and a physician, Dr. Luke was very thorough and detailed in his gospel accounts.
Why was the ascension recorded for us? Are you looking forward to defying gravity someday?
Luke 24: 49-52
49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God”.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Jesus is giving his disciples the final instructions before he leaves earth for heaven. “Stay in the city until you have been clothed (endued) with power from on high”. In other words, don’t go running around in your own strength, wait till I give you my strength. The disciples obeyed as we can see in v. 53. We will cover this in full when we get into our next study of the second book of Dr. Luke (the book of Acts). For now, it is expedient that you and I do not go ahead of God but wait until He clothes us with strength for a particular purpose. What is God’s assignment for you? Make sure you are in the right “clothe” before you go. Remember Jesus had told his disciples that they will be his witnesses and preach repentance and forgiveness to all nations v. 48. The temptation is to run and start without receiving “power from on high”.
2. It was necessary that the disciples were present during Jesus’ ascension. Jesus never wanted to leave any doubts in their minds about his whereabouts after the resurrection. For one, people were already saying Jesus’ body was stolen from the grave and others were saying that he did not even die in the first place. The ascension sealed the deal and closed his physical chapter on earth. People are still giving the same excuse about the resurrection of Christ even till this day. Jesus said, there is even more blessing for those who did not see but believe (John 20:29). I want to be blessed by believing. How are about you. Don’t wait to see, it may be too late for you to believe after you breathe your last breath.
3. The ascension was necessary and it is tied to the instruction of waiting to receive power from on high. In John 16:7, Jesus said to his disciples, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you”. The Helper mentioned here is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. The Helper helps. Don’t you want help? I do. Wait for the Helper in all you do. I am tired of running in my own strength. I want you to help me Lord.
4. Jesus went up and sat at the right hand of God. Doing what? He is there praying for us and making intercession for us. He is there, “He (God) raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:20-23. We know for sure where Jesus is and what He is doing for us.
5. Jesus went up, as prophesied. “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”. Psalm 110:1. You see why the ascension is a big deal for us?
6. Jesus has also ascended to prepare a place for us. 1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John14:1-4. Are you troubled? Relax and trust God. God will not foreclose on us. The banks will foreclose on us but not God.
7. It pays to obey instructions. 52”Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God” .The disciples were filled with great joy because they saw Jesus going up. Then the worshipped. We only worship what we know and are convinced of. Our praise will come from our conviction and not so much from a change in our circumstances. Our praise, worship and joy must come from obedience to what God has instructed us to do. We cannot manufacture these three things; joy (not happiness which is based on what’s happening), worship and praise. These are products of obedience. Are you short on any of these, please check your obedience gauge? It could be running empty. Are you staying as God have told you to stay (tarry) or are you on the run doing it in your own strength?
Are you waiting to defy gravity as Jesus did? I can’t wait. He said we will. 16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words”. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. Are you excited? Be encouraged and comforted. For now, wait to be clothed always with the “power from on high” – the Holy Spirit. Let’s not run on our own strength. “Tarry”! Let us spend time praying and hearing from God. I am learning to pray for any and everything no matter how big or small it is in my life. How about you? What are you troubled about right now? Pray and tell God about it. “Helper”, please help us Lord. Amen.
Comments