Silas: A Short Story

The sun, a bruised orange on the horizon, cast long shadows across the Mount of Olives as I, Silas, a fisherman from Galilee, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Jesus’ other disciples. For forty days, the risen Christ had walked among us, a tangible echo of the miraculous wonders that we witnessed. Now, a strange current electrified the air, a terrifying anticipation of Jesus’ promise that exhilarated me.

The Eternal Promise

We were a tattered band. We had followed Jesus to the end. Peter, the rock, his weathered face etched with a mixture of grief and determination. John, the beloved disciple, his eyes reflecting a preternatural calm. Thomas, ever the skeptic, a furrow etched between his unruly brows.

The mountain air burned with unspoken questions. Where was Jesus going? Would we ever see Him again? Jesus, his brow creased with the familiar tenderness that mirrored his teachings, addressed our anxieties. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me (John 14:1 NKJV),” He said, His voice a low rumble that resonated in the quietude. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2 NKJV)”.

His words, a calming balm to our troubled hearts, spoke of a future reunion in a majestic kingdom beyond our fractured world. Yet, the impending separation hung heavy in the air.

The King’s Glorious Ascent

As Jesus spoke, a sense of awe descended upon us. He raised His hands in a benediction, a final blessing upon His flock. A golden light seemed to emanate from Him, cloaking us in its tangible warmth. Then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, The Lord Jesus began to rise! Transfixed, we painfully watched as the distance between Jesus and the earth infinitely expanded. His form, once so familiar, became a potent silhouette against the dawn. There was no chariot of fire, no celestial fanfare, just the quiet majesty of a promise fulfilled.

A Cloud of Uncertainty

A tear traced a path down Thomas’s cheek, a reflection of the turmoil within us all. Just as doubt threatened to engulf me, a magnificent cloud, a swirling vortex of white and gold, mantled above Jesus, forever obscuring The Lord from our view.

A hush fell over our group. Had Jesus vanished? Was this the end? Then, as if on cue, two beings in dazzling white robes suddenly appeared beside us.

“Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” one of them asked, his voice gentle yet firm (Acts 1:11). “This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Their words echoed in the stillness; a promise permanently etched against the canvas of the sky. Jesus, our teacher, our healer, our friend, was gone, but not forever. He had ascended to a place of power and glory, a place He was preparing for us.

As I, Silas, turned away from the Mount of Olives, a newfound resolve burned within me. The mission entrusted to us by Jesus — to spread the Gospel message to the ends of the earth — took on a palpable urgency. He may have ascended, but His presence remained, the eternal guiding light on my renewed journey of faith.

Reflection Question

As Ascension Day (Acts 1:1–11) approaches, it becomes a powerful reminder that your faith is not built on an earthly kingdom, but on a heavenly one. How does this knowledge impact the way you live your life as a Christian?

Equipping Christians: The Power of Jesus Christ’s Ascension

The Ascension of Jesus Christ is not merely a historical event; it is a cornerstone of Christian faith. Here is how it equips you:

● Hope: Christ’s Ascension assures us that death is not the end. Jesus conquered death, paving the way for our own resurrection.

● Authority: Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, signifying His power and authority. Our faith rests on our victorious King.

● Promise: The Ascension is a promise of Christ’s return. We live with the firm hope of being reunited with Him in eternity.