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Humble Hero
the disciples gathered around Him. He looked at them lovingly. He
did not criticize them for their faults and failures. Words of deep
tenderness were the last they heard from their Lord. With hands
outstretched in blessing, as if to assure them of His protecting care,
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He slowly ascended from among them, drawn toward heaven by
a power stronger than any earthly pull. As He rose, the disciples
strained to catch a last glimpse of their ascending Lord. A cloud of
glory hid Him, and the words came back as the cloudy chariot of
angels received Him, “I am with you always.” At the same time the
sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir floated down
to them.
Received by Chariots of Angels
While the disciples were still looking upward, two angels in the
form of men spoke. “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing
up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into
heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
These angels, the most exalted among the angel ranks, were the
two who had come to the tomb at Christ’s resurrection. They longed
to join the heavenly assembly that welcomed Jesus, but in sympathy
for those whom He had left, they waited to give them comfort.
Christ had ascended in human form—the same Jesus who had
broken bread with them and who that very day had climbed with
them up the slope of the Mount of Olives. The angels assured them
that the very One whom they had seen go into heaven would come
again just as He had ascended. He will come “with clouds, and
every eye will see Him.” “The Lord himself, with a cry of command,
with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will
descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise.” “When
the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with
Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”
Revelation 1:7
;
1
Thessalonians 4:16
, NRSV;
Matthew 25:31
.
This will fulfill the Lord’s own promise to His disciples: “If I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:3
.
After the trial and crucifixion, the disciples’ enemies expected
to see an expression of sorrow and defeat on their faces. Instead