The Ascension.

Dina tindakan 1:1-3, Luke records that the resurrection appearances were spread over a period of 40 poé, during which Jesus gave ‘many convincing proofs’ tina kabangkitan-Na. Sanajan, this series of appearances terminated abruptly with one final, dramatic, departure.

Jesus had apparently been preparing his disciples for this moment: for he had given them instructions on more than one occasion to remain in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:49, Meunaitna 1:4-8).

Bluke 24:50-52 indicates that this final meeting began somewhere in Jerusalem, from where Jesus had led them out towards Bethany. The more detailed account in Acts 1:6-12 indicates that their final destination was the Mount of Olives. During their final conversation Jesus refused to answer questions about the future of Israel. But He again promised that they would soon receive an empowerment from the Holy Spirit that would enable them to be witnesses to Himself throughout the whole world.

Saatos ieu, the disciples saw him ‘lifted up’ from the earth until he was hidden from sight by a cloud. While still gazing upward, two ‘men dressed in white’ appeared, who told them that Jesus would one day return to the earth in the same manner as they had seen Him go.

Many have sought to explain away the resurrection appearances as some form of delusion: but this series of appearances defies such analysis. There is no doubt that the disciples had derived great comfort from them: but if they had been delusional, they would have had a tendency to become more vivid and frequent as time went by. Tibatan, aranjeunna eureun abruptly dina titik ieu. Langkung lengkep, delusions sapertos utamana mangaruhan individu, padahal ieu acara disaksian ku saeutikna sabelas urang, jeung kamungkinan nepi ka 120 (c.f. Meunaitna 1:12-15). Leres pisan, ampir sakabéh penampilan éta ka grup: teu individu.

Pikeun aya wae kasempetan tina delusion perusahaan nyekel, eta bakal kudu jadi hal anu maranéhanana kalibet fundamentally hayang yakin: Tapi hal ieu teu bisa disebutkeun ngeunaan Yesus ninggalkeun murid-murid-Na sorangan pikeun ngalakonan pagawean di kota pisan nu geus nyalibkeun Guru maranéhanana.! Jeung, Bluke 24:52 nyarioskeun ka urang yen aranjeunna leres-leres mulih ka Yerusalem kalayan kabagjaan anu ageung. Salaku kabiasaan delusional sahiji band lalaki sieun, teu asup akal: tapi sakumaha kabiasaan sakelompok lalaki anu geus spent 40 poé dina parusahaan hiji undeniably resurrected Yesus, anu karék jangji yén maranéhna bakal geura-giru nampa sakabéh kakuatan anu diperlukeun, ngajadikeun rasa pohara alus.

Naon anu lumangsung salajengna – runtuyan miraculous kajadian dimimitian dina poé Pentecost – aya di luar ruang lingkup ieu bagian tina diskusi urang. Tapi salaku bukti salajengna pikeun realitas Yesus’ kabangkitan eta bakal ngajamin ujian pisan serius dina tahap engké.

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