Easter Week 7 - Watching Him Go Up

Scripture Reading

Luke 24:36-53

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Big Idea (For Parents)

It is better for the church that Christ ascended because his going up to heaven meant the Spirit’s coming down to earth (John 16:7). Nevertheless, it can be hard to understand and believe things like Jesus’ resurrection victory which we cannot always touch and see. So, when Jesus knew he was soon to ascend, he gave his disciples physical, embodied lessons about his victory—seeing and touching his hands and feet, taking and eating physical fish, and physically rising to heaven before them in God’s glory cloud. Those embodied experiences of his resurrection victory unto ascension grounded the disciples who would soon have to walk by faith more than by sight.

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Family Reflection

(Read aloud or summarize)

In Jesus’ first coming, he died for our sins and then rose again in victory. But his work wasn’t complete until he ascended—or went up—to heaven. That is because once Jesus went up, he and the Father would pour down the Holy Spirit and bring the fullness of Jesus’ resurrection victory more and more to earth.

But, Jesus ascending to heaven in his body meant that his disciples wouldn’t have him bodily with them anymore. Jesus knew that it was hard for his disciples to understand and believe his death, resurrection, ascension, and renewal of the nations . Therefore, he taught his disciples about these things with his physical body—he showed his hands and feet, they touched his body, he took and ate real fish, and he physically rose to heaven in God’s glory cloud while they watched. All these physical lessons about Jesus’ victory helped the disciples continue to trust and obey Jesus even after Jesus was no longer with them on earth in his body.

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Discussion Questions

(Choose 1-2. Adjust for age)

1- What is something that was hard for you to understand until you could watch, touch or do it personally, and then it made more sense?

2- Why is it better for the church that Jesus ascended into heaven instead of staying forever on earth in his body?

3- What is Jesus doing now from heaven?

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Practice—Watch it Ascend!

Find one physical, embodied way to celebrate Jesus’ ascension as a family this week. The following are some ideas.

-Hike up a hill (Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, Acts 1:12). Watch yourself ascend and enjoy the wonder of being “on high.” Remind yourself that Christ is now much higher still, and commit to rest in his present heavenly throne.

-Burn incense outside or enjoy a fire-pit in your yard. Watch the smoke rise into the heavens like Christ the ultimate “ascension (or whole burnt) offering” rising to the Father.

-Soap bubble release. Best outcome if there is enough breeze to carry bubbles up and away.

-Shine a laser or strong flashlight up into heaven after dark and watch the light ascend.

Pray for God to use this embodied ascension experience to help you more fully believe and therefore rest and rejoice in Christ’s current enthronement and reign over all.