Hello Stemian's all, today is a god-raising day for all Christians around the world, so I made some works of art themed of Jesus for "You will be My witnesses". The ascension of Jesus to heaven is an event not easily understood directly by the mindset of the present. The most memorable celebration of Jesus' ascension to heaven was when he attended with two other brothers in Moscow in 2006, the celebration being led by Patriarch Alexis II.
The Orthodox Church, has preserved the celebration of this mystery of faith throughout the ages. They celebrate it with full obedience to the Fathers of the Church. First of all is the prayer, both in a liturgy and by the motion of the heart, Orthodox Christians can go straight to the core of faith, the incarnation of Christ, his death and resurrection, his ascension into heaven towards the Father and his eternal through His Spirit in the Church. Through the liturgical contemplation of the mystery of the Holy Trinity, Orthodox people draw the significance of the glory of mankind called to be with Christ changed when their lives are still on earth.
How can we understand the celebration of the ascension of Jesus into this paradise? Using the language and images available when the text was written, the Bible reveals that Jesus, forty days after his resurrection, was taken up into heaven. His companions, had to let him go after all this time in close intimacy with him. They recalled what Jesus had said to them: "It is to your advantage that I go away" (John 16: 7). Why? In order that the Holy Spirit may come and His presence dwells in them: "But ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you" (Acts 1: 8).
After His ascension to heaven, the disciples were in anxiety; they are without direction. We too have experienced moments where we feel neglected, left alone with our limited strength, while waiting for "strength from above." That power will be received at Pentecost.
The disciples gradually understood that Jesus' ascension into heaven beukanlah something directly related to Christ; the event also has meaning for them and for everyone. By returning to God, Jesus opened the path for all humanity that had never existed before. The ascension of Jesus shows that His humanity is eternal in God, then God's promise of our participation in His life is also renewed (although it has been fulfilled in the events of Christmas). Jesus is accepted by God with all his outward existence: this gospel explanation, though far beyond what we can think of, is not speculation about life after life on earth. This event reveals the infinite dignity of human beings-body, soul and spirit-in the sight of God. Through Jesus, our humanity is also welcomed by God. Our body will also have a future; like a dead seed and a plant. (see 1 Corinthians 15: 36-44)
As He left the disciples, Jesus said to them: "You will be My witnesses to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1: 8). This is the request He gave to them and also His promise to them. The love He has given has transformed them, changed their basic identity. The early Christians later revealed it as a new birth. From then on their lives transformed into newscasters of reality far beyond what they could reach, a sign of God's love. Now the words that Jesus preached in the beginning came true: "Whoever hears you hears me" (Luke 10:16)
As we celebrate Jesus returning to the Father, it is as if He were telling us: now you must extend My love to the ends of the earth; you will continue the work of My service on earth; the power of the Holy Spirit will strengthen your feet and will give you the courage you need.
As disciples of Jesus, sometimes we must move toward new horizons, far or near, to convey the hope of the gospel. Jesus carries the work of his ministry with great humility and He says to His disciples: Do not bring anything with you (Luke 10: 4); leave your luggage. With the same simplicity, we can move towards our neighbor without fear. So let us take bold steps to be witnesses who radiate the love of God!
"You will be My witnesses": now the words of the Risen Christ mean a call of repentance for us as Christians can be witnesses of Christ who "destroyed the walls of separation" (Ephesians 2 , 14) if we remain separate from each other? Only together we can be responsible witnesses.
On the day of Jesus' Ascension to Heaven this time, we pray that the hope preached by the gospel can be disseminated to all mankind. We rely on the invisible presence of the Risen Christ, as he promised in the last words of the Gospel of Matthew, "I am with you always to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
Thank you for visiting and reading on my simple blog, hopefully we all get enlightenment and hopefully we can be a better human beings both for yourself and others.
