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. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.”1
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)
“But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 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.” (John 16:5-7)
[an] ossuary from the Mount of Olives dated to A.D. 43 contains an inscription to Jesus who ascended. This ossuary, reported to be deep in storage within the Rockefeller Museum, was first reported by Eleazar Sukenik, late professor at the Hebrew University and father of the famous archaeologist Yigael Yadin. Its significance lies not only in being the earliest testimony to Jesus, but possibly the eye-witness testimony of one who saw Jesus ascend to heaven from the Mount of Olives (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50; Acts 1:9-12; 1Cor. 15:6).2
Endnotes:
1. | NKJV, Acts 1:9-12 |
2. | Ref-0051, November/December 2002 |
3. | Ex. 13:21; 14:24; 40:38; Lev. 16:13; Nu. 9:15; 14:14; Deu. 1:33; 4:11; 5:22; Ne. 9:12,19; Ps. 18:12; 78:14; 105:39; 148:8; Isa. 4:5; Eze. 1:4; Rev. 10:1. |
4. | The cloud also provided covering from the sun in the desert (Ps. 105:39; cf. Isa. 4:6). |
5. | Ref-0104, pp. 204-205 |
6. | Ref-1332, p. 293 |
Sources:
NKJV | Unless indicated otherwise, all Scripture references are from the New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. |
Ref-0051 | Randall Price, World of the Bible News and Views, [www.WorldOfTheBible.com]. |
Ref-0104 | John Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord (Chicago, IL: Moody Bible Institute, 1969). |
Ref-1332 | Walter B. Knight, Knight's Master Book of New Illustrations (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1956). ISBN:0-80281699-1f. |