Christ Sends His People

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Christ's ascension doesn't mean that His work is complete. We have much work to do for Him, while we are His people on earth. 

Our Empowered Mission 

Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me, THEREFORE go and make disciples." (Matthew 28:18-19). You operate under His authority! Go spread His good news, healing, and love to all people. Make disciples. Baptize them. Teach them to obey His words. 

When the disciples watched Jesus ascend, angels had to say to them: "Men of Galilee, 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." (Acts 1:10-11) 

The message was clear—don't just stare upward in awe and wonder. There's kingdom work to be done! The ascension wasn't an ending but a commissioning. Jesus had completed His earthly mission, and now He was passing the torch to His followers, empowered by His Spirit. 

This is why the book of Acts begins with the ascension and immediately transitions to the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. These events are inseparably linked. Jesus ascended to send His Spirit, and through that Spirit His presence and power would continue to work through ordinary people like you and me. 

Christians should be the foremost people striving to make this world better. God made you with unique abilities, passions, and gifts so that through you, Jesus' love can spread. 

Never Alone 

And the best news is that through the Holy Spirit, we're never alone in this mission. Jesus promised, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) 

On Ascension Day, when Jesus physically left earth, the disciples didn't mourn—they rejoiced! Why? Because shortly afterward, they received Him again through His Spirit. 

Think about what it must have been like for those first disciples. They had walked with Jesus, learned from Him, seen His miracles. Now He was leaving physically but promising something even better—His very presence with them through His Spirit. No longer would they need to go to where Jesus was; His presence would go with them wherever they went. 

As we look back at Christ's ascension today, let’s remember: We don't need to cower in defeat, because Christ is on the throne. We are called to go into the world and make disciples, and we never need to feel alone, because His Spirit is with us. 

May we live with a deep knowledge of His authority, His mission, and His presence, each day.