I would like you to turn in your Bibles with me to Luke chapter 24 the end of the chapter.

I'd like to read just the last several verses beginning at verse 50 Luke 2450.

Jesus led them out as far as Bethany.

Lifting up his hands, he blessed them.

And while he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped. from them and was carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and were continually in the temple, blessing God.

In the book of acts which Luke writes to complete the story of what Jesus began to do and to teach.

He tells us in those first three verses of acts, in the first book, O Theophilus,

I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day in which he was taken up after

he had given commandment through his Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself after his passion by many

proofs appearing to them during 40 days speaking to them of the kingdom of God.

Therefore we learned that the ascension of Jesus happened 40 days after the resurrection.

If it had happened in 1981,

Jesus would have risen on April 19th and would have ascended day before yesterday on Friday of this week.

And we, if we had been those disciples, would find ourselves now in Jerusalem waiting the day of Pentecost some

ten days later.

And therefore what I'd like to do is focus today on the ascension and next Sunday on the meaning of Pentecost.

According to Luke 2445, we need help to understand the significance of what's happening here.

We need to have an almighty sovereign lifting of avail.

Jesus said there in Luke 2445 or Luke said,

Then he, Jesus, opened their minds to understand the scriptures.

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