The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Mobile users:
Visit Daily Encouragement on your mobile browser, hit "Add to
home screen" or "Add page shortcut." This creates an instant
Daily Encouragement App!
Search Daily Encouragement
A new message is updated most
weekdays usually by Noon Eastern Time (USA).
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
(Click refresh or reload for current message)
Thursday, May
18, 2023
"Taken
Up In Glory"
Message
summary: Today
we consider
the account of
the Ascension
found in
Luke’s Gospel
when He was
"taken up in
glory".
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"And
He (Jesus) led
them out as
far as
Bethany, and
He lifted up
His hands and
blessed them.
While He was
blessing them,
He parted from
them and was
carried up
into heaven.
And they,
after
worshiping
Him, returned
to Jerusalem
with great
joy, and were
continually in
the temple
praising God”
(Luke
24:50-53).
"Beyond all
question, the
mystery from
which true
godliness
springs is
great: He
appeared in
the flesh, was
vindicated by
the Spirit,
was seen by
angels, was
preached among
the nations,
was believed
on in the
world, was
taken up in
glory" (1
Timothy 3:16).
Yesterday
Brooksyne
talked with
our Amish
neighbor to
see if their
older
daughters
could come
over sometime
this week to
help her
spread mulch.
As Annie was
reviewing
their schedule
she reminded
Brooksyne that
on Thursday
(today) they
take off work
since it is
Ascension Day,
which
for some
reason
receives
little notice
among many
branches of
Christianity.
The
girls made
plans to come
over Saturday
morning. They
are good
workers and as
we age some
routine
household and
outdoor chores
have gotten a
bit harder,
and it's an
opportunity
for the young
ladies to earn
some spending
money! Our
neighbors grow
vegetables for
the Lancaster
Farm Fresh
Co-op
along with
field corn,
wheat, etc.
While
Brooksyne was
visiting their
home yesterday
their dad came
in a bit upset
after a piece
of equipment
broke down
that was
needed to
finish baling
the hay in
their field.
Typical of
farmers, who
work with a
lot of heavy
duty
equipment,
machinery
breaks down
and repairs
can be very
costly and the
crop won't
wait!
Ascension
Day is
commemorated
in the Amish
tradition by
families
getting
together for
fellowship,
games, and
potluck meals.
There are
several very
specific
events in the
life of Christ
and the church
that we
commemorate.
At Christmas
we celebrate
the
incarnation
and birth of
Christ. On
Good Friday we
focus on His
sacrificial
death and on
Easter His
glorious
resurrection.
On Sunday, May
28, we will
observe
Pentecost.
But
for some
reason
Ascension Day
doesn’t get
nearly as much
attention in
most church
traditions,
including
those of which
we have been a
part. How many
of you
awakened today
with Ascension
Day on your
mind. before
reading this
message?
Ascension
is defined as
"the act of
rising to an
important
position or a
higher level".
Theologically
it is the
ascent of
Christ into
heaven on the
fortieth day
after the
Resurrection.
Today’s
Scripture
portion gives
us the account
of the
Ascension
found in
Luke’s Gospel
although the
more
well-known
account is
found in Acts
1.
This account describes the place of the Ascension: “He led them out as far as Bethany”. John 11:18 informs us that “Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off". So during the period following His resurrection Christ traveled to Galilee but was now back near Jerusalem for His great departure from earth.
“He lifted up His hands and blessed them.” That must have been a remarkable experience! I can think of several deeply memorable blessings I have received through life. Bill Shibilo and his wife Veda, both now with the Lord, were a great encouragement to us during our years in New England. They were steady and loyal, which any pastor will tell you is a tremendous blessing.
Over twenty years ago as Bill’s time of departure neared we gathered in his hospital room at New England Medical Center in Boston and sang hymns, read Scripture and prayed. Bill had a respiratory illness and had great difficulty speaking but I will never forget when he mustered enough physical strength to look directly at Brooksyne and me and proclaim, “God bless your ministry". We still stay in touch with their son Greg, who carries the esteemed position of being Ester's favorite Sunday School teacher.
Likewise I am sure each of the disciples remembered this special blessing all through the remainder of their lives. But I wonder if they had any idea what would happen next?
“While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” An ancient creedal statement of the early church is found in 1 Timothy 3:16, “He was taken up in glory.”
The account in Acts 1 states, “He was taken up before their very eyes". This was important for the disciples to witness and is an essential part of the Biblical record. It reinforces that Jesus Christ is God and that He returned to His home in heaven 40 days after He was resurrected from the dead.
“And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.” This worship experience sets a pattern for the Church. Christ was no longer visible nor was He in their midst physically. At this point their worship was similar to ours.
Peter expressed it this way many years later in his epistle, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
The Acts account provides this additional detail, “He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
These two angels of the Lord dressed in white assured those early disciples that “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
The angels’ promise of His return is reinforced and elaborated on throughout the New Testament. Paul calls it the “blessed hope”. One day, perhaps even today, this glorious event will take place. In the meantime let us faithfully serve the Lord who was taken up in glory. Let us look to Him who now sits at the right hand of the Father, until that great day is fully realized!
This account describes the place of the Ascension: “He led them out as far as Bethany”. John 11:18 informs us that “Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off". So during the period following His resurrection Christ traveled to Galilee but was now back near Jerusalem for His great departure from earth.
“He lifted up His hands and blessed them.” That must have been a remarkable experience! I can think of several deeply memorable blessings I have received through life. Bill Shibilo and his wife Veda, both now with the Lord, were a great encouragement to us during our years in New England. They were steady and loyal, which any pastor will tell you is a tremendous blessing.
Over twenty years ago as Bill’s time of departure neared we gathered in his hospital room at New England Medical Center in Boston and sang hymns, read Scripture and prayed. Bill had a respiratory illness and had great difficulty speaking but I will never forget when he mustered enough physical strength to look directly at Brooksyne and me and proclaim, “God bless your ministry". We still stay in touch with their son Greg, who carries the esteemed position of being Ester's favorite Sunday School teacher.
Likewise I am sure each of the disciples remembered this special blessing all through the remainder of their lives. But I wonder if they had any idea what would happen next?
“While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” An ancient creedal statement of the early church is found in 1 Timothy 3:16, “He was taken up in glory.”
The account in Acts 1 states, “He was taken up before their very eyes". This was important for the disciples to witness and is an essential part of the Biblical record. It reinforces that Jesus Christ is God and that He returned to His home in heaven 40 days after He was resurrected from the dead.
“And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.” This worship experience sets a pattern for the Church. Christ was no longer visible nor was He in their midst physically. At this point their worship was similar to ours.
Peter expressed it this way many years later in his epistle, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
The Acts account provides this additional detail, “He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
These two angels of the Lord dressed in white assured those early disciples that “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
The angels’ promise of His return is reinforced and elaborated on throughout the New Testament. Paul calls it the “blessed hope”. One day, perhaps even today, this glorious event will take place. In the meantime let us faithfully serve the Lord who was taken up in glory. Let us look to Him who now sits at the right hand of the Father, until that great day is fully realized!
Be
encouraged
today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Daily
prayer: Father,
Scripture
teaches us
that even as
Jesus ascended
into heaven 40
days after His
resurrection
He will come
again, but
this time we
have the
blessed hope
of ascending
with Him and
joining with
those of like
precious
faith. Thank
You for loved
ones and
witnesses of
the truth who
have repeated
this glorious
life-transforming
message to us
over the years
preparing our
hearts for
this major
event. May it
be the
resounding
message from
our own lips
as we
anticipate the
glorious
moment when we
will all be
changed in the
twinkling of
an eye. Help
us to be
faithful and
watching
eagerly for
the blessed
hope of Your
second coming
where those of
us on earth
will take up
eternal
residency in
heaven. In
Your name,
Jesus, we pray
to You as we
also look for
Your
reappearing.
Amen.More
study on
Ascension Day
from the gotquestions.org
teaching site:
Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus and His disciples went to Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem. There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come. Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven. The account of Jesus’ ascension is found in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11.
It is plain from Scripture that Jesus’ ascension was a literal, bodily return to heaven. He rose from the ground gradually and visibly, observed by many intent onlookers. As the disciples strained to catch a last glimpse of Jesus, a cloud hid Him from their view, and two angels appeared and promised Christ’s return "in just the same way that you have watched Him go" (Acts 1:11).
The Ascension of Jesus Christ is meaningful for several reasons:
1)
It signaled
the end of His
earthly
ministry. God
the Father had
lovingly sent
His Son into
the world at
Bethlehem, and
now the Son
was returning
to the Father.
The period of
human
limitation was
at an end.
2) It signified success in His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished.
3) It marked the return of His heavenly glory. Jesus’ glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9).
4) It symbolized His exaltation by the Father (Ephesians 1:20-23). The One with whom the Father is well pleased (Matthew 17:5) was received up in honor and given a name above all names (Philippians 2:9).
5) It allowed Him to prepare a place for us (John 14:2).
6) It indicated the beginning of His new work as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
7) It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (Acts 1:11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).
2) It signified success in His earthly work. All that He had come to do, He had accomplished.
3) It marked the return of His heavenly glory. Jesus’ glory had been veiled during His sojourn on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9).
4) It symbolized His exaltation by the Father (Ephesians 1:20-23). The One with whom the Father is well pleased (Matthew 17:5) was received up in honor and given a name above all names (Philippians 2:9).
5) It allowed Him to prepare a place for us (John 14:2).
6) It indicated the beginning of His new work as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
7) It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (Acts 1:11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).
Today's
Suggested Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Glorious
Day (Living He
loved me)"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Casting Crowns
"One
Day"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Free
Presbyterian
Church
(The Casting
Crown song is
based on this
old hymn)
Brooksyne's
Note:
Here's the
wagon
partially
loaded with
baled hay.
Hopefully
Chris was able
to borrow from
another Amish
neighbor the
needed
equipment so
he could
finish the
work he and
the boys
started. After
Annie
called
and told me
that Chris had
a box of
rhubarb ends
for me I went
to pick them
up. The last
several years
he has given
me boxes of
rhubarb stems
since only
bundles of
stalks are
sold at market
and stems are
discarded (a
stem is part
of the plant
that is a
central shoot
that holds the
leaves, the
branches,
flowers and so
on). The stems
do not give an
attractive or
neat
appearance
would be my
guess as to
why they are
cut off the
stalks before
going to
market. Chris
claims that
the sweetest
part of the
rhubarb is
found in the
stems. He
provides me
with a lot of
rhubarb which
I chop, freeze
and use in
pies, jam and
rhubarb
punch.
To
receive the
"Daily
Encouragement"
each
Monday-Friday
use our
sign-up form
or this
page to
subscribe to
our free email
list. You can
also subscribe
to the Wordpress
rss feed
or through a Wordpress
email
subscription.
(See the email
subscription
on the top
right side
after opening
this page.)
We
want to thank
all who
financially
support our
ministry. We
realize there
are many fine
ministries and
causes
requesting
support at
this time but
if you would
like
information
about making a
donation to
our ministry
see here.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Daily
Encouragement on: 
Wordpress
iHeart
radio
Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Wordpress
iHeart
radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
© Copyright 2023 Stephen C. & Brooksyne Weber - All Rights Reserved
Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA