RE-The Ascension of Jesus
Before Jesus returned to his Father, he promised his disciples that he would send them the Holy Spirit to enable them to continue to spread the Easter message and be his witnesses.
In the Acts of the Apostles account of what happened after the Resurrection; the writer describes Jesus’ return to his Father in symbolic language.
So, when they had come together, they asked him, “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 witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus.
Acts 1: 6-14
The disciples, Mary and the women gathered together in Jerusalem to wait in prayer in the upper room for the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was coming up to the Jewish feast of Pentecost or Shavuot, that is the harvest festival. There were many people in Jerusalem at this time.
It is important to note that it seems as if the disciples still had not understood that Jesus’ kingdom was not an earthly one, but the kingdom of the heart.
Answer the following questions on the blog below:
- What do you think the power of the Holy Spirit would enable them to do?
- How do you think the disciples spent their time between the Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit who would give them the power to be witnesses to the ends of the earth?
Task:
Today, we have an art task! I would like you to express the Ascension of Jesus using art.
The Ascension of Jesus to Heaven, as stated in the New Testament, has been a frequent subject in Christian art, as well as a theme in theological writings.
There are many different interpretations-some are traditional and some are modern.
Have a look at the interpretations below. Which one do you prefer? Comment on the blog below and make sure that you tell us why!
It is up to you how you create your art:
- You could use coloured pencils or paints if you have the resources.
- If not, you could use magazines and newspaper cuttings to create a collage? I like doing collages as I find drawing pretty tricky!
- You could also use computer software and create your artwork virtually.
- You could even make a model using Lego or other building materials!
Please send in your photos so I can share them with everyone 🙂
Miss Gorick and Mrs Healy xx
Sergio’s amazing artwork!
Chiara’s wonderful artwork!
Antonia’s wonderful interpretation!
Paloma’s super interpretation!
Ariella’s beautiful interpretation!
Anahi’s wonderful interpretation!
For a printable version of the blog, click here-RE-Wednesday
Good morning!
Here are my answers:
1) The Holy Spirit would enable the disciples to carry on spreading the Good News, even without Jesus there in person.
2) I think the disciples were mourning a little bit, because they no longer had their friend and guider, Jesus, with them.
I also think that they would have spread the story of Jesus and God further.
Morning Chiara!
I agree that the disciples were mourning. They must have felt lots of different emotions! Thank you for thinking carefully ?
Hello,
Here are my answers:
1)When the Holy Spirit came to the disciples It made them talk in different languages so the Good News could spread to everybody.
2)The disciples felt scared as Jesus was gone but when the Holy Spirit came with Its strength, the disciples lost their fright and started speaking in different languages.
I prefer the first interpretation of the Ascension of Jesus because it shows that Jesus rules the kingdom of Heaven and it also shows both Earth and heaven in one.
Morning ? It is lovely to think about the disciples spreading the Good News in all those different languages! Thank you ?
My favourite interpretation of the Ascension of Jesus is the fourth.
My answers:
When the Holy Spirit came to the disciples, it made them spread the Good News.
The disciples must have felt sad ? because they had lost their friend but the Holy Spirit had strengthened them and helped them to spread the Good News.
Hi Charles 🙂 Thank you for your answers. I also like the fourth painting with its bright colours!
Good morning,
I think that the Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to understand each other and see everyone as equals. It also enabled them to spread the Good News to everyone around the world.
I think the disciples would of felt a little lost without Jesus but when the Holy Spirit came, they regained their strength and faith in Jesus and God.
Hi Luke 🙂 Thank you for your answers! It’s lovely to think of the Holy Spirit helping the disciples to see everyone as equals.
Good Morning Miss,
Here are my answers:
1) The power of holy spirit will enable the disciples to speak in different languages to enable them to talk to all people about the good news.
2)The disciples felt worried and scared because Christ was gone but the holy spirit came to strengthen all of them and they could speak in different languages
I like the fourth interpretation of the ascension of Jesus because it has Jesus coming from the sky and also it has a variety of colours.
Hi Javier! Thank you for sharing your thoughts-I agree I like the variety of colours in the 4th painting.
Good morning! Here are the answers to my questions:
1) I think the power of the holy spirit will enable them to speak many languages so they can preach the gospel to people from around the world.
2) They would of wondered what Jesus meant why nothing was happening and if something had happened to Jesus. I would have been been anxious about what might happen to me when the holy spirit comes to us.
I think that the Holy spirit will give them the courage and the power to be witnesses to the end of the earth.
Hi Nina 🙂 It is lovely to think about the Holy Spirit giving them courage! I think we all need courage from the Holy Spirit through our lives.
Good morning !
1. The Holy Spirit allowed them to speak in different languages to spread the good news.
2. All disciples felt scared when Jesus went to heaven, but when the Holy Spirit came with its strength, they started speaking in different languages.
I prefer the last Ascension of Jesus because it is colourful, bright and I imagined heaven to be like that.
Hi Eliza! Thank you for your comments. I agree with you that the last image is very colourful and bright 🙂
I like the second piece of art because it is nice and simple but portray the scene very well.
That’s lovely to hear-I agree that the simplicity is really nice.
1)The power of the Holy Spirit would enable the disciples to spread the Good News to everyone.
2) The disciples felt ashamed as they were unsure how to spread the Good News but when the Holy Spirit came they felt comforted as they knew Jesus was by their side to give them courage.
3) I preferred the last interpretation because I was impressed by the use of bright colours put together to express visually the energy of the Holy Spirit.
Hi Anahi 🙂 Thank you for your answers. It is lovely to read that you interpreted the bright colours as expressing the energy of the Holy Spirit.
Hello everyone!
Here are my answers:
1) I think the Holy Spirit would be able to help them stay in faith and keep on spreading the Good News.
2) I think the disciples felt a boost of energy and realisation to continue spreading the word of God with the Holy Spirit as the could now communicate to everyone but also felt a bit sad because their faithful leader has gone.
Hi Jada! It’s lovely to think of the disciples experiencing a ‘boost of energy’!
What do you think the power of the Holy Spirit would enable them to do?
I think the Holy Spirit would enable them to understand God better, and to know what He wanted them to do to help spread the word of God.
How do you think the disciples spent their time between the Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit who would give them the power to be witnesses to the ends of the earth?
I think that they prayed to God to give them guidance because Jesus wasn’t there to teach them and the Holy Spirit hadn’t gotten to them yet.
Hi Gabriel 🙂 Thank you for your answers.
I agree that allowing the disciples to understand God better must have been very important.
Morning!
Here are my answers.
Q1) The Holy Spirit Enabled the disciples to speak different languages so the Good News would be able to spread super fast without anyone travelling or translating the languages.
Q2) I think the disciples felt afraid and confused because they didn’t know what to do but as soon as they new they were very happy because god was with them in holy spirit form.
Hi Elly! I agree, the disciples must have felt very confused and afraif.
Thank you
Morning!here are my answers:
1)I think the Holy Spirit will enable the disciples to speak on many different languages and spread the good new to EVERYONE!
2)I think the disciples would be feeling lonely and scared,because just when they thought,the saviour of the whole world was here to care for them and give them all of his unconditional love,but then he had to be crucified.i think of as if how you would feel if someone you REEEAAAALLLY ,REEEEALLLY loved,would die,or they got ill.i would feel afraid that there is no one there for you anymore and i would also feel lonely and depressed.
Thankyou!
Hi Ariella 🙂 Thank you for sharing such thoughtful answers. I agree that they may have lonely and afraid of what may happen.
Oh and by the way,i will be doing a collage out of… you guessed it…magazine strips!!(and i like the last painting best);)
I can’t wait to see your collage out of guess what…magazine strips!!
Good afternoon Year 6 cant wait to see your art work.
1.) Speak the truth and speak many languages so they can do so all the time.
2.) I think they were in disbelief although a lot of other things have already happened.
Hi Haleema 🙂 It’s wonderful to think of the disciples sharing the truth in so many different languages!
Good Afternoon Everybody,
1)I think the power of the Holy Spirit would enable them to talk different languages so they could tell everybody in the language they speak about God’s love,the good news and Jesus miracles.
2)I think the disciples might have felt afraid but also confused because jesus told them the holy spirit will be within them but they might also be excited because Jesus told them the Holy Spirit will guide them just like he did.
The piece of art i prefer is the last one because i really like the different colours and the pattern which is used around Jesus.It really shows that this was a special moment and that Jesus is special.
Hi Jade 🙂 Thank you for sharing your thoughtful ideas. It’s lovely to think of the disciples sharing the Good News in so many different languages!
Hi Chiara and Sergio, I have just received your artwork and I am so impressed! You have both depicted the Ascension in a beautiful way using wonderful colours. Well done! Your pictures are above.
Hello miss! Here are my answers:
Q1. The Holy Spirit enabled them to speak the Good News in a way everyone could understand in their own languages.
Q2. I think that they were feeling a bit lost and trying to figure out what to do without the guidance of Jesus.
Hi Laetitia 🙂 Thank you for your answers. Yes I agree that they must have felt lost at first without His guidance.
Hi Paloma! I have just received your beautiful interpretation of the Ascension-it is wonderful and I really like the bright colours that you have chosen. Also, when reading your answers, it made me smile to think of Jesus as our role model. Well done 🙂
Hi Antonia 🙂 I have just received your beautiful sketch of the Ascension. I really like how delicate yet detailed it is and I think Jesus looks very welcoming with his hands open. Well done and Thank you for sending it in!
I think that it gave them the ability to speak in tongues.I also think the disciples were praying for the Holy Spirit to come and anoint them.
Thank you for sharing your interesting ideas.
Hi Miss Gorick I was just wondering if you got the piece of art I did on the 7th of may for V.E day.
If you did I was just hoping you could show it to the class??
Thank you?
Hi Jade! I’m so sorry, I must have missed it but I have managed to find it! It is really lovely and very detailed 🙂 Thank you so much for making me aware of this. I will add it to our English blog today!
Hi miss,just wondering if you’ve got my artwork for RE?
Morning Ariella 🙂 Thank you! I have just received your beautiful RE work-your magazine collage is really effective and I really like the bold colours that you have chosen. I will add it to the blog above-well done!
Morning Anahi 🙂 I have just received your beautiful interpretation of the Ascension-thank you! The texture that you have created in the sky is really effective and you have drawn Jesus with such detail. Well done! I have added your work to the blog above.
Hi miss,did you get mine?
Morning Ariella 🙂 Yes, I received your picture thank you. I commented above and have added your photo! Thank you so much for sending it in!