AscenB24.   Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11.  After his resurrection from the dead, Jesus spent forty days “giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.”  Jesus gave instructions through the power of the Holy Spirit whom he had received; but the apostles had not, until the day of Pentecost.  The power to do God’s work comes through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  One day, Jesus “will return in the same way” as he ascended, at the end of the universe.

Mark 16:15-20.   Jesus commissions his disciples to do the same work he was doing when he was physically present, when he said, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.”  The salvation that gives eternal life comes from acceptance of the good news of Jesus Christ.  In the early days of Christianity “the Lord worked with them (the disciples) and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.”  Later the Holy Spirit worked to promote the faith spiritually, without “accompanying signs.”  In John 20:29b, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Ephesians 1:17-23.  “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him.  May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened that you may know”—“what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe” in Christ. We benefit now and for all eternity in what Jesus has done for us.  He is Lord of all things with him as the head of the Church, “which is his body.”

Ephesians 4:1-13.  God equips “the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”  The message of the Ascension is that we, the Church, are now to make visible the invisible Jesus by being witnesses of his presence and doing his work in the world.