Ascension
Ascension in the Liturgical (Church) Calendar is celebrated 40 days after Easter (this is a Thursday). In our tradition we usually celebrate it in a lowkey way a Sunday or two before Pentecost. This is the day when Jesus left the Earth after the Resurrection.
Kid Version
Ascension Day is the special day we remember 40 days after Easter when Jesus went back to heaven. Even though it's celebrated on a Thursday, we often mark it on a Sunday before Pentecost.
On this day, Jesus said goodbye to his friends and went back to be with God. It's like a happy farewell because he promised to always be with us, guiding and watching over us. It's a reminder that even though we can't see Jesus, he's still with us in a special way.
Hmmm... Luke and Acts were supposedly written by the same author.
Compare these versions.
So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Ascension Stories in the Gospels:
Matthew: Nada on the Ascension. It's like the disappearing act without the bunny.
Mark (Shorter Version): Still no Ascension story. Must've been on vacation.
Mark (Longer Version): Bingo! Ascension time, Mark 16:19-20.
Luke: Ascension story? We got it! Moving on up to heaven, literally.
John: Predicted the Ascension in John 6:62, but the details? Lost in translation, perhaps.
The Apostles Take on Ascension:
(Paul) Romans 10:5-7: Paul's Ascension sneak peek. Spoiler alert: it happened.
(Paul) 1 Timothy 3:16: Paul spills the Ascension beans.
(Peter) 1 Pet. 3:21-22: Peter's Ascension reflections. Sky's the limit when you're going up!
Hmmm...
Where did the Ascension happen based on these scriptures?
Mount of Olives? Bethany? Somewhere over the biblical rainbow, maybe?