The departure of Jesus 

Acts 1:1-11 (New Living Translation)

1In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

4Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.5John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

7He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two -robed men suddenly stood among them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

What one thing would you be sure to do if you know Jesus was coming back today ?

 Today there are still people who doubt Jesus' resurrection. Jesus appeared to the apostles on many occasions after his resurrection, proving that He was alive. Look at the change the Resurrection made in the disciples' lives. They were disillusioned and feared for their lives. After seeing the resurrected Christ, they were fearless and risked everything to spread the Good news about Him around the world. They faced imprisonment, beatings, rejection and martyrdom, yet their lives never compromised their mission. These men would not have risked their lives for something they knew was a fraud. They knew Jesus was raised from the dead, and the early Church was fired with enthusiasm to tell others.