Daily Devotional for Saturday, November 25

The Ascension

“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen,”

Mark 16:19, 20.

As the disciples gazed into Heaven after Jesus ascended, they must have been filled with grief as their Savior and Teacher had left them physically. However, biblical history reveals that their grief almost immediately turned into faithful and bold preaching of the gospel. They left the mount of ascension and returned in obedience to wait for the promised Holy Spirit to come.

On the day of Pentecost, the disciples’ faith was emboldened as they began to preach the gospel in unlearned languages to the people who had gathered in Jerusalem. Thousands were saved and baptized as they experienced the power of the resurrected and ascended Christ. Jesus had promised to send the Comforter and to intercede for His children from the right hand of God the Father.

From Pentecost until today, the gospel is declared with power and boldness as children of God proclaim the glorious message of salvation. Because our Savior died on the cross, we can be saved and forgiven of our sins. Because He rose from the grave, we have hope of resurrection and eternal life. Because Jesus intercedes for us from His throne, we have confidence that our eternal Advocate is greater than our adversary. His Holy Spirit dwells in us, empowers us, and leads us to live in the confidence that He has won the victory.

FINAL THOUGHT: Because Jesus is ascended and sitting at the right hand of God interceding for us, we can live faithful and victorious lives.

Steven Ridings