It’s The Real Thing

Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised. . . . In just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.   Acts 1:4-5

After Christ ascended into heaven, he would no longer be visible to the disciples, but through the Holy Spirit, his presence would be just as real as when they could see him. Jesus’ presence would now be with all of them, in every place at one time.

This was not possible while Christ was on earth—human flesh can only be in one place at a time. Even after the Resurrection, when Christ was able to appear and disappear, there’s no indication that he was in more than one place at a time.

Now Jesus told the disciples they were to be his “witnesses . . . in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). They’d be scattered across the earth, but Christ would be with them in every place (see Matthew 28:19-20).

This is what Jesus was referring to when he said, “But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you” (John 16:7). After the Ascension, the disciples did not have the visible presence of Jesus with them, but they had the Spirit of Jesus in them.

The Lord Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father, and at the same time, the Spirit of Jesus is present in the believer. This is Christ’s promise to every one of his children. Jesus is with you by his Spirit, and he will never fail you or abandon you (see Hebrews 13:5).

After Jesus was taken up, angels appeared and said, “Men of Galilee, . . . why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” (Acts 1:11).

God’s promise is that just as Jesus was snatched up into the cloud, so when he returns, we will be caught up to meet him in the air. What happened to Jesus will happen to us when he comes in glory.

For further reading, see Matthew 28