Ascension Day

 

Ascension Day: "He indeed presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing-proofs, appearing to them during forty days"

Ascension Day is one of the seven principle feast (celebration) days of the church year: Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, All Saints, Christmas, Epiphany. Based on Acts 1:3, Ascension Day is commemorated as the fortieth day from Easter Day, even though Luke 24 (Luke also wrote Acts) has Jesus ascending on the evening of Easter Day. It makes no difference; that the same author tells the event differently in two accounts is the writer's prerogative, artist's license. 

Apparently coming prominently around the year 1000 CE, the whimsical art that Bible scholars call "the disappearing feet of Jesus" charms me, and I hope it charms you as well!

T88&c 

The Collect

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Luke 24 Disciples’ Literal New Testament

1 but on the first day of the week at deep dawn, they went to the tomb bringing the spices which they prepared. 2 And they found the stone having been rolled-away from the tomb. 3 But having gone in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came about during their being perplexed about this, that behold— two men stood-near them in gleaming clothing. 5 And they having become terrified and bowing their faces to the ground, they said to them, “Why are you seeking the Living One among the dead? 6 He is not here, but He arose. Remember how He spoke to you while still being in Galilee, 7 saying as to the Son of Man that He must be handed-over into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and rise-up on the third day”. 8 And they remembered His words.

9 And having returned from the tomb, they reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now the women were the Magdalene Mary, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them. They were saying these things to the apostles. 11 And these words appeared in their sight as if nonsense, and they were not-believing them. 12 But Peter, having arisen, ran to the tomb. And having stooped-to-look, he sees the linen-cloths only. And he went away marveling to himself as to the thing having taken place.

13 And behold— two of them were going on the very day to a village being sixty stadia distant from Jerusalem, for which the name was Emmaus. 14 And they were conversing with one another about all these things having happened. 15 And it came about during their conversing and discussing, that Jesus Himself, having drawn-near, was going with them. 16 But their eyes were being held-back that they might not recognize Him. 17 And He said to them, “What are these words which you are exchanging with one another while walking?” And they stood [still], sad-faced. 18 And having responded, one— Cleopas by name— said to Him, “Are You alone staying in Jerusalem and did not know the things having taken place in it in these days?” 19 And He said to them, “What things?” And the ones said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus from-Nazareth, Who became a man who was a prophet, powerful in deed and word before God and all the people; 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers handed Him over for condemnation to death, and they crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that He was the One going to redeem Israel. Yet indeed also in-addition-to all these things, it is the third day from which time these things took place. 22 Yet some women from-among us also astonished us. Having come-to-be at the tomb very-early, 23 and not having found His body, they came saying also to have seen a vision of angels who say that He is alive. 24 And some of the ones with us went to the tomb and found it so— just as the women indeed said. But they did not see Him”. 

25 And He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow in the heart to be putting-faith upon all that the prophets spoke! 26 Did not the Christ have-to suffer these things, and enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 And they drew-near to the village where they were going. And He made-as-if to be proceeding farther. 29 And they strongly-urged Him, saying “Stay with us, because it is toward evening, and the day has already declined”. And He went in that He might stay with them. 30 And it came about at His lying down [to eat] with them that having taken the bread, He blessed it . And having broken it, He was giving it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And He became invisible from them. 32 And they said to one another, “Was not our heart burning within us as He was speaking to us on the road, as He was opening the Scriptures to us?”

33 And having arisen at the very hour, they returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and the ones with them having been assembled, 34 saying that “The Lord really arose! And He appeared to Simon”. 35 And they were describing the things on the road, and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. 36 And while they were speaking these things, He Himself stood in the midst of them. And He says to them, “Peace to you”. 37 But having been frightened and having become terrified, they were thinking that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And for what reason are doubts coming-up in your heart? 39 Look at My hands and My feet, that I am Myself. Touch Me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you observe Me having”. 40 And having said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they were still not-believing it because of the joy, and marveling, He said to them, “Do you have something edible here?” 42 And the ones gave Him a part of a broiled fish. 43 And having taken it, He ate it in their presence. 44 And He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while still being with you— that all the things having been written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled”. 45 Then He opened their mind that they might understand the Scriptures. 

46 And He said to them that “Thus it has been written— that the Christ suffers and rises-up from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed on the basis of His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold— I am sending-forth the promise of My Father upon you. But you sit in the city until which time you put-on power from on-high”.

50 And He led them outside until near Bethany. And having lifted-up His hands, He blessed them. 51 And it came about during His blessing them that He separated from them, and was being carried-up into heaven. 

52 And they, having worshiped Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple blessing God.

The Response: Psalm 47

1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; * shout to God with a cry of joy.

2 For the Lord Most High is to be feared; * he is the great King over all the earth.

3 He subdues the peoples under us, * and the nations under our feet.

4 He chooses our inheritance for us, * the pride of Jacob whom he loves.

5 God has gone up with a shout, * the Lord with the sound of the ram's-horn.

6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; * sing praises to our King, sing praises.

7 For God is King of all the earth; * sing praises with all your skill.

8 God reigns over the nations; * God sits upon his holy throne.

9 The nobles of the peoples have gathered together * with the people of the God of Abraham.

10 The rulers of the earth belong to God, * and he is highly exalted.

Acts 1 DLNT

1 I made the first account about everything, O Theophilus, which Jesus began both to do and teach 2 until which day He was taken-up [after] having given-commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He chose— 3 to whom He indeed presented Himself alive after His suffering by many convincing-proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God.

4 And being assembled-with them, He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait-for the promise of the Father “which you heard from Me. 5 Because John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit after these not many days!” 6 So indeed the ones having come together were asking Him, saying “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”. 7 And He said to them, “It is not yours to know the times or seasons which the Father appointed by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you. And you will be My witnesses— both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and as far as the last place of the earth”. 9 And having said these things, while they were looking He was lifted-up. And a cloud received Him from their eyes. 

10 And as they were looking-intently into heaven, while He was going— and behold, two men in white clothing were standing near them, 11 who also said, “Galilean men, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus having been taken-up from you into heaven will come in this manner— the way you saw Him going into heaven”.

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain being called ‘of Olives’, which is near Jerusalem (having a Sabbath’s day journey).