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59. The Ascension of Jesus (‘Îsâ)

In Acts 1 we see that Jesus stayed with his disciples for about forty days after His resurrection. When it came time for His departure, He said to them that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. He explains that they will be His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the Ends of the Earth.  Jesus then ascends into Heaven on a cloud and two angels say to His disciples as they look up “This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) Jesus is coming back! This is a reminder to us that if you are in Christ, you are in-dwelt with the power of God and the presence of the God in His Holy Spirit. We go out with a message of power, love, and truth to be witnesses that this whole story is true.  It is all about Jesus.  One day He is coming back!  As Christians we look forward to that day with eager anticipation to see our Savior face-to-face.

·      Read in The Qur’an - 3:54-55, 4:158

 

Readings from The Qur’an:

·      The Qur'an 3:54-55 “And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill 'Isa (Jesus)], and Allah plotted too. And Allah is the Best of those who plot. 55. And (remember) when Allah said: ‘O 'Isa (Jesus)! I will take you and raise you to Myself and clear you [of the forged statement that 'Isa (Jesus) is Allah's son] of those who disbelieve, and I will make those who follow you (Monotheists, who worship none but Allah) superior to those who disbelieve [in the Oneness of Allah, or disbelieve in some of His Messengers, e.g. Muhammad, 'Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), etc., or in His Holy Books, e.g. the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Qur'an] till the Day of Resurrection. Then you will return to Me”

·      The Qur'an 4:157-158 “And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah 'Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah," - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of' Isa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Isa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary).  But Allah raised him ['Isa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise.”

·      How does this compare with the Biblical accounts of Jesus’ ascension? In the Bible, what do the two angels says to those who are watching?

·      Acts 1:10–11 “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, [11] and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’”

 

Readings from The Tanakh and The Bible:

·      Mark 16:19–20 “So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. [20] And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.”

·      Luke 24:51 “While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.”

·      Acts 1:6–11 “So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” [7] He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. [8] But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [9] And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. [10] And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, [11] and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”