Over these five and a half weeks, over 500 people witnessed the resurrected Christ. Jesus’ death had been publically confirmed and now he was publically confirmed as alive. The resurrected Messiah fellowshipped with, taught, and ministered to his disciples, and even cooked for them and ate with them. For the remainder of the 1st century, these 500+ witnesses’ stories were cross-examined and investigated by skeptics and proven true time and time again and the Gospel spread with new generations of converts convinced that Jesus Christ was the living God.
At the culmination of these 40 days, Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed his disciples and was suddenly "taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." (Acts 1:9) Yet Jesus had not abandoned his disciples. “I am with you always,” (Matthew 28:20) Jesus said in one of his final teachings. And so he is. Jesus is the true vine (John 15:1) and all who are in Christ are grafted into him (Romans 11:17). He is present in his body and his blood, giving us life and love, wisdom and truth. He continues to minister to us today as we await his coming again in great glory and power at the very end of the age.
Almighty God, whose only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven: May our hearts and minds also there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.