Today is Ascension Day. On this day the worldwide churchacknowledges the day Jesus ascended into heaven. It falls roughlysix-and-a-half weeks after Easter.

Jesus said to his disciples, "These are my words that Ispoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in thelaw of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then heopened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them,"Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from thedead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to beproclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You arewitnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Fatherpromised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power fromon high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up hishands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them andwas carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalemwith great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God (Luke24:44–53).