47. Ascension - The Homecoming

To accompany Jesus during His last days as a human being on earth was an honor that I never expected. We talked about our memories, our hike up the Mount of Temptation, I told him the story of my journey with the wise men from Persia to Bethlehem before He was born. He laughed imagining me holding the star the whole way, and then hovering it over His infant head.

Mother Nature did her very best to adorn the earth for those crystalline days. The weather was unusually sublime. Cool nights and sunny warm afternoons. A smattering of rain caused wild flowers to burst forth in a rich palette of colors, shapes, textures and fragrances. As much as I love the heavens, I have to admit that earth can be spectacular, and never more than now. Not at least according to my experience. The songs and sounds of hundreds of living breathing wildlife contributed a symphonic element to the scene that put all the choirs of angels to shame.

From time to time we encountered His disciples and friends so Jesus could prove that He was alive in one way or another; at first shocking them, then just amusing them when they got used to it. None of His students knew when He would show up, what He would look like or where He was going when He left to be alone.

On the walk from Tiberias to Bethany Jesus was either in silent contemplation, prayer, or He was in high-alert perceiving mode, soaking it all in, thinking about how to improve upon the design for the new heaven and new earth to come.

I wondered why He asked me to join Him when He rarely spoke to me. Just then Jesus said, "Angel, I want you to know that I am grateful for your companionship."

I replied, "Lord, if You could mention that to my boss, it may help with the promotion I have been seeking."

Jesus smiled and said, "Of course I will. I suppose some day we will be remembering this old earth together."

"Maybe so, Lord," I responded "but I can't even imagine what it is like to be a human. Your experience on this planet is very different from mine."

Jesus replied, "True. Becoming human was very important for Us, important to Our desire to bring Adam and Eve back from exile, to give humanity the right to become Our children" He paused to reflect and added, "I think the Father also sent me here to get a Bride!" With that mini revelation, Jesus blushed and smiled, and then He went on. "Becoming human has helped Us also to be able to judge fairly and compassionately. Creating humanity in Our image and likeness seemed easy enough, but as people strayed farther and farther from this image We wanted to know why and to understand the influences they are under that keep them from the Father. By the way, you should know that I will soon be returning to heaven."

Without hesitating to respond to the surprised and anxious look on my face, He said, "and I look forward to that, but I am sad to be leaving." Then Jesus gave me a stern look, and added, "You must stay here until My Bride's year ends! I promise to be the first to welcome you home at the end of August."

Without offering me a nanosecond to complain, Jesus returned to the topic of becoming human. He said, "It has not been enough to create them, there is a law of nature [thermodynamics], that forces deterioration and skewing of Our design. Life simply requires a counter force to dissipation." With that Jesus grew anxious to talk to His students before He left earth...without me.

"I must go soon, please gather my disciples on Mt. Olivet and I will meet you there, okay? Now go, hurry!"

"Certainly Lord, I am at Your service." I said. Bucking for that promotion, I promptly flew away, leaving Jesus to head up Mount Olivet alone with His thoughts and prayers.

Gathering the disciples was not an easy task. I didn't know where to find them. Fortunately another angel, whom I had never met flew up to me and said, "You look north as far as Galilee and I will gather everyone from Jerusalem up, and meet you on the mount."

One by one, or when I was lucky enough to find them together, we lead the disciples telepathically to the mountaintop. John and James were the first to arrive. They recognized Jesus immediately and greeted Him warmly asking the reason for the assembly. Soon, Peter, Bartholomew, and Matthew showed up. Thomas was the last, as usual, but we were all grateful that He made it so no one would have to try to convince him that Jesus had ascended.

Jesus found the perfect spot to address them. Some men chose to stand, while others sat on large rocks.

"I am about to go to my Father." He announced "I want you men to go together to Jerusalem. Go to the house with the upper room; remember where we had supper that evening before My arrest. Stay there and wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon you. John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

Peter asked, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

Go into the world to proclaim the good news to the whole creation that I can save men's souls from sin and death. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe, by using my name they will cast out demons, they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hands on the sick and they will recover."

Standing on top of that mountain in the warm sunshine Jesus looked as bright and beautiful as ever. Then the remarkable happened. Jesus gradually ascended as if he was filled with helium. We all, men and angels, gazed intently on the sight. When He was high enough a big puffy cloud moved in front of Him until He could no longer be seen. I wondered why He didn't say 'goodbye!'

Just then, I could feel myself becoming visible, and saw one other angel becoming visible too! We were wearing long white robes that reminded me of the morning I waited for the ladies to arrive at the tomb.

While the disciples were still gazing at the cloud looking for glimpses of Jesus the other angel said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heavens, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven." I nodded in agreement, and wondered why Jesus hadn't mentioned this return trip to me.

When they were sure Jesus was gone for good, the students all chattered with each other about their astonishment while descending the mountain and walked to Jerusalem together. Instead of being sad at His departure, as I was, His students were full of joy and amazement, blessing and praising God along the way.

Their merriment bored me so I sneaked away and flew up to follow Jesus into heaven. There I saw the most spectacular sight of all. Jesus Christ was clothed in luminous glory, and God the Father was beside Him. Their Spirits were intertwined in a hug to beat all hugs. Tears of joy flowed from Christ's human eyes. All of Jesus's nostalgia dissipated in this glorious moment of reunion. He was overjoyed to be back home after 33 years in exile on earth. His Father was thrilled to have Him back.

As the climax of the godly reunion died down, Jesus looked around to see who else was there and spotted me. I cringed at His surprised and angry look.

Without a further word or grimace, I turned around to head back down to earth. But when I thought He stopped watching me, I turned back for one last look. Lo and behold! Jesus was being ushered by the Father Himself to His golden throne right beside the Father God! Cherubim and seraphim encircled them chanting in perfect harmony. Jesus looked so regal and so comfortable there. Under my breath, I whispered, 'See you later Victor; thank you for everything.' Then I turned back to head to the upper room to wait for the Holy Spirit with the guys.