Bible Stories for Adults

Jesus Ascends into Heaven

Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11

Next Week - Jesus Will Come Again (Matthew 25:31-46)
Bible Words to Remember:
Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. John 16:7, 13

Who did Jesus first appear to after He rose?
Mark 16:9-11 = Mary of Magdala, she told apostles, they didn't believe her
Who saw Jesus next?
Matthew 28:8-10 = The other women
Who was next?
Luke 24:34 = Simon (Peter) - Also 1 Cor 15:5
Then who?
Mark 16:12-13 = Two disciples on road to Emmaus, Apostles didn't believe

Who did He appear to next (still on Easter Sunday) that helped get rid of the apostles' doubt?
Mark 16:14 = The apostles themselves, He rebuked them for disbelief
What appearance did Jesus make next to satisfy another doubter?
John 20:24-26 = The apostles again, but with Thomas - a week later

Where were the apostles to go next to meet up with Jesus?
Mark 16:7 = To Galilee
Did the apostles recognize Jesus when He appeared to them there?
John 21:1, 3-8, 13-14 = Not at first, they did after he led them to catch lots of fish
What important thing did Jesus do at this time?
John 21:15-17 = Reinstated Peter - 3 confessions in response to 3 denials

Did Jesus appear to the apostles any other times while they were in Galilee?
Matthew 28:16-17 = Yes, on a mountain where He told them to go
Was anyone else with the apostles on this mountain?
1 Corinthians 15:6 = Appeared to over 500 disciples - either on mountain or later

What other appearances did Jesus make?
1 Corinthians 15:7 = To James, then to apostles, then last of all to Paul
When did the resurrected Jesus ever appear to Paul?
Acts 9:3-5 = On the road to Damascus, Saul was on his way to arrest Christians
Why did Jesus make this special appearance to Saul?
Acts 22:12, 14-15, 21 = To be His special witness to the Gentiles
How long did Jesus remain on earth before ascending?
Acts 1:3 = 40 days (40 - generation)

Are these all of the appearances Jesus made?
John 20:30 = Many may not be recorded
Why do we have the stories about Jesus we have and not any others?
John 20:31; 21:25 = Key ones selected so you may believe, others too numerous

Why did Matthew, Mark and Luke write their gospels? = Same reason
Luke 1:1-4 = So that you may know the certainty of the things you've been taught
What scope did they try to cover to accomplish this goal?
Acts 1:1-2 = From when Jesus began to teach until His ascension

What reason other than giving proof of His resurrection did Jesus appear to people?
Luke 24:44-45 = Make it clear that He was the Messiah prophesied in the Scriptures
How did the previous few weeks help show this fulfillment?
Luke 24:46 = Scripture said the Messiah would suffer, die & rise on the third day
How would the coming weeks and years also show this fulfillment? = Begin in Jerusalem
Luke 24:47-48 = Jesus' witnesses would take His good news (gospel) to the world
When would this begin?
Luke 24:49 = After the apostles receive the promised power of the Spirit

Were the apostles to immediately begin witnessing on their own?
Acts 1:4 = No, they should wait in Jerusalem for the Spirit (Spirit witnesses thru us)
How long would they have to wait and how would they know it was time?
Acts 1:5 = A few days; They'd be baptized, not with water, but filled with the Spirit
After the risen Jesus opened their minds to the Scripture, did the apostles finally understand?
Acts 1:6 = No, they asked if Jesus would finally take Israel back from the Romans
How did Jesus reply to such an ignorant and mindless question?
Acts 1:7 = There are some things you just won't understand until the Father's time
Would they ever understand the answer to this and their many other "dumb" questions?
Acts 1:8 = Yes, when the Holy Spirit comes to them; They'll then reveal to others

How would they understand these things just by the coming of the Spirit?
John 16:12-14 = The Spirit of truth ... will guide you into all truth
Why couldn't the Spirit explain these things to the apostles while Jesus was with them?
John 16:5-7 = Jesus must return to the Father before the Spirit is sent
Would the Spirit lead the whole world to understanding?
John 14:16-17 = No, the evil world will not see or know the Spirit, Will live in you

What important statement does Jesus make before giving final instructions to the apostles?
Matthew 28:18 = He was given all authority and His instructions would be supreme
What final instructions did He then give to the leaders of His body, the Church?
Matthew 28:19-20a = The Great Commission - Go and make disciples

How was this calling to go and make disciples different than the apostles' calling to date?
Matthew 10:1, 5-6 = They were only to go to the Jews while Jesus was on earth
What are the limits of the people to whom the Church is to tell about Jesus' good news?
Mark 16:15 = No limits, All people in all of God's creation

How was this calling to baptize different than the baptism that had been given before?
Acts 19:1-7 = John baptized to prepare the way, Jesus baptized of the Holy Spirit
Would John have agreed with this understanding?
Luke 3:16 = John said, "I baptize with water. He will baptize with the Holy Spirit."
What is so important about baptizing those who believe the good news of Jesus?
Mark 16:16 = Salvation is for those who believe and join God's chosen family

What did Jesus tell His apostles to do with people who became disciples and were baptized?
Acts 2:42 = Teach them and build them in spiritual maturity

How would the apostles be able to accept this great responsibility to evangelize the world?
Matthew 28:20b = Jesus will always be with us, We don't do this job alone
How strong are the powers that Jesus gives us to accomplish this task?
Mark 16:17-18 = Stronger than demons, language barriers, snakes, poison, sickness

What did Jesus do after giving these final instructions?
Luke 24:50-51 = He blessed the apostles and left them
How did He leave them?
Acts 1:9 = He was taken up into heaven, apostles lost sight of Him in a cloud

Had anything like this ever happened before?
2 Kings 2:11 = Elijah was taken alive to heaven
What was the significance of Jesus disappearing in a cloud?
Exodus 13:21-22 = The Lord appeared to the Israelites in a cloud
How else was Jesus' ascension different than Elijah's?
1 Timothy 3:16 = Jesus was taken up in glory
What kind of glory is this?
John 17:4-5 = The glory of God - Jesus had before He humbled Himself as a man

Where did Jesus go when He ascended into heaven?
Mark 16:19 = To sit at the right hand of God
What is important about this?
Hebrews 1:3-4 = Jesus is above all things, even the angels
Why is it important that Jesus be exalted and given the name above all names?
Philippians 2:9-11 = So everyone in heaven & earth will confess that Jesus is Lord
What does Jesus promise to do on His throne in heaven?
Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46 = Separate His sheep from Satan's goats for eternity

What happened as the apostles watched Jesus ascend into heaven?
Acts 1:10 = Two angels (messengers) suddenly appeared with them
What message did the messengers have?
Acts 1:11 = Jesus will come back the same way He just left

Where had all of this taken place?
Acts 1:12 = Mount of Olives, Where Jesus went to speak with the Father
What did the apostles do when they returned to Jerusalem?
Acts 1:13a, 14 = They went back to their room, joined constantly in prayer
With Jesus gone, did they stay behind locked doors in fear?
Luke 24:52-53 = No, they had great joy and praised God in the temple
Did they fulfill their command to go and did Jesus keep His promise to be with them?
Mark 16:20 = Yes, they preached everywhere & the Lord worked with them