I just finished writing this. It is not something I have ever been led to speak of. I get the sense it is written for one of you. There is a great amount of clarity shared here. This is all about the understanding of the ascension.
The ascension is a key point in understanding who Jesus is for the nations(tribes) of Israel. For those of us who were raised outside the Temple walls, us who are not Jews, the resurrection and ascension do not have the same meaning. For us, what matters is that God walked among us, as one like us. And that in order for us to overcome death, we must believe that we can be forgiven our sins if we acknowledge them as sin. And when we do this because we believe in the living God, he and his authority become the life we carry forward. Our baptism is a Spiritual acknowledgement that we are willing to die of our old selves to become new in him.
The following are three separate passages talking about the same incidents. The ascension. This is when the resurrected form of Jesus showed himself to those Jews who loved him, his spiritual family. Then he left them, and returned to the presence of the Father.
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Mark 16:19,20
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After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
20
Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
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Luke 24:50-53
50
When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
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While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
52
Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.
53
And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
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Matthew 28:16
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Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
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When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
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Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
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Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
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and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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(Bethany was a town in the region of Galilee. Galilee is a mountainous region.)
Firstly, it is important to understand that the lineage of Adam, carried a curse from disobedience. This first sin, cursed his lineage to not be able to please God. Over generations, the Lord, spent effort to bring this lineage in line with the Father's will. It was always the will of God that this lineage would seek out His will by faith, and overcome the curse. This objective included a set of commandments called Law. The Law described the sins that separated man from doing what was holy(righteous). If and when one of this lineage acted on faith, it was considered holy.
Jesus of Nazareth was born. He was one like the sons of man, although he was born to a virgin through the power of God. He was the promised one, the one who would overcome the curse of the first sin of Adam, and reconcile the Jews to God. As his ministry began, he taught and did many wonders in the presence of the promised people. His authority was holy and complete, and offered the only way to honor the Father.
To this moment, all authority, now including death and condemnation of human souls, is in Christ Jesus. Before Jesus was resurrected, the prince of this world had authority through the Father over death directly. Because of this authority, no human soul had made it into the presence of the Father, but were instead bound in condemnation. Jesus defeated this curse by himself becoming a curse. Jesus during his life did the will of God, fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, and for love, gave himself up for the forgiveness of the sins of all mankind. His selfless love and obedience to the Father will, made it impossible for death to claim him. So he had victory over the curse that bound mankind. The curse he became was that we must die of ourselves and exist with him as our life. This is our way to eternal life is available for all who believe in his authority to forgive our sins. For him to remain in us, and us in him, we were instructed to keep two commandments: Love the Father, love others. If belief in him leads us to keep these commands, our faith is recognized, and our eternal life is secure with him.
Any water baptism that was done by the disciples or under their instruction, was done only to Jews who would repent for the forgiveness of sins, acknowledging the new mediation. This they would do to recognize the new covenant under the eternal High Priest, the Holy Authority. By the Father who showed himself to the Jews, by the Son whose blood atoned for their sin, and by the Holy Spirit sent to guide them and to bring forth the power of God through them, so all present could witness it. This baptism was the fulfillment of the old baptism, which cleansed the outer body of uncleanliness, symbolically representing the flood God sent to cleanse wickedness from the world. This new baptism was to cleanse sin from the soul, so that is was no longer blind and led by the desires of the flesh. The repent(acknowledgement) of sin was to then be followed by producing acts that were worthy of that repent. As knowledge of sin did not break the bond of sin, instead it increased it.
After giving them instruction, and praying for them, he instructed them to wait together for what was promised. Then the resurrected form of Jesus ascended, returning to the presence of the Father. He requested that the Holy Spirit be set upon those who believed among his disciples.
The disciples received the Holy Spirit as an anointing, and what is called the great commission began. They preached to all the nations(tribes) within Israel. and the Lord was with them until the end of the age of this testimony. Through them, the power of God, the Holy Spirit, did wonders and healings, and were kept safe from harm.
Without the ascension, the Holy Spirit would not have been sent down, as the Holy Spirit is the Power, the Spirit of the living God. It is present within all who carry belief. The repent of sin, for the seeking of forgiveness is an act of faith in the atoning quality of the Son. This is the only baptism for all who are outside the temple walls.
Ministries that do not differentiate between the ministry of the Jews and the ministry for the Gentiles, add what was not meant for the Gentiles. The age of transition between covenants was for the Temple believers raised under Law. Although Paul had the Gentile ministry, some of Paul's letters are directed specifically to Jews. But all of the other books of the New Testament are meant for these transitioning Jews. Although they may grant us Gentiles insight, their context is based on holy scriptures and prophets that have no relevance to those not under Law. We were raised in our transgressions. Through grace alone, are we able to set ourselves aside to have holiness come through us. This is righteousness for us.
It is by the kingdom that holiness manifests in this world. Our ministry is solely a faith ministry. We walk in our transgressions and rely on the atoning quality of the blood of the Lamb to escape death. Only by this grace, and our reliance of faith, are we capable of having a relationship with God.
There are very few believers that listen to the Holy Spirit. The Son of God is the Truth. And the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. For those who believe, the Spirit guides them. Like a door to the Kingdom, it places words and prompts actions through their hearts and minds. This can and does only occur when they set themselves aside so this holiness can come through them. They(we) work to increase in this service, as it mirrors their place in eternity.
I pray that this assists in your understanding.
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