Endings are the hardest - but one has to get there sometime on this finite earth. I hope you catch some of the emotion, the excitement that gripped Jesus followers in the days after his resurrection as I did writing this...
Mary never did see Jesus again – on this earth. His disappearance left an ache in her heart that would never completely fill. However, she was not unbearably sad about it. He had told her where he was going and that they would re-unite again someday. He had told her that this time they would be together forever. She had been so happy to hear that and began to dream about what that might be like. How she looked forward to that day. There was nothing more she wanted than to be with her beloved son.
For a while though, Mary still continued to hear stories about Jesus being around and meeting with people. She felt a surge of excitement every time she heard such news. He had spent most of his time with his disciples, which was understandable. Mary knew there was a lot he wanted to make sure they knew and understood now about what he had all been about. He had even met with a large crowd to hear him teach and heal some of their number on at least one occasion (I Corinthians 15:6).
Then she heard that Jesus had gone again with his disciples to one of their favourite spots, the Mount of Olives looking over Jerusalem. This was where he had been so violently torn away from them just weeks before. He had left unexpectedly left them again but this time it had been totally different.
It had been a beautiful sunlit spring day, with just the type of breeze that warms your body as it blows around you. The blue sky had been as clear as could be. The new grass and the leaves on the trees had never seemed so green. The bird songs around them had never sounded so special. No one disturbed them. They had sat down and enjoyed one another’s company in a way they had never really done before. The disciples were literally basking in the light of the Son.
Jesus had taken the opportunity, as it turned out, to give them what were some final instructions. He had told them (Matthew)28:18“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” You too (Acts) 1:7“will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” (Matthew) 28:19… Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 28:20teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Then, before they had quite realized where this was leading, he had comforted them with these words (Matthew 28:20), “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Then he had stood up and (Luke 24:50) “and lifting up his hands, he blessed them.24:51…During the blessing (Acts 1:9) “he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. 1:10As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them 1:11and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.” The disciples had realized immediately these were angels, with a message that could be trusted. (Luke 24:52)“So they had worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
The disciples had met in John Mark’s home, the same place where they had celebrated the las Passover Jesus had with them. They had decided that everyone who had been close to Jesus should join them in Jerusalem to wait for this special event and receive the same blessing of the Holy Spirit they had received. Thus, it had been that an invitation had been extended to Jesus’ mother Mary and her family too. Mary was very glad to hear this. Her excitement prevailed upon Jesus’ brothers and they all agreed together to journey down to Jerusalem to wait for this special day.
Jesus was gone, but the fact that he had fulfilled the prophecies of the ages, as they had now come to understand, and his own promises, had so energized them, there was no sadness among them. He had spoken soften of the Kingdom of Heaven being near. Indeed, in their eager anticipation of Jesus’ last promise, they believed it had already come. They worshipped and praised God with fervently thankful hearts for all that had been accomplished and looked forward with utmost anticipation to what lay ahead.
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