The Ascension of Christ shows the last stage in God's plan for mankind: total union with Himself upon one's departure from the world. The Gospel of Matthew ends at a mountain in Galilee, with Jesus commanding the disciples to spread the Gospel. Afterwards, the disciples return to Jerusalem rejoicing, remaining continually in the Temple. They say: "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11). Two men clothed in white appear and tell the disciples that Jesus will return in the same manner as he was taken. Some traditions say that he was taken up in a fiery chariot, much like the Prophet Elijah. Jesus is taken up and received by a cloud. Jesus tells his disciples that they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit and that they will spread his message the world over. Olivet (or the Mount of Olives), to the northeast of Bethany. Jesus and the eleven were gathered near Mt. For forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus continued to preach the Gospel. The third, and most celebrated, account of the Ascension is in the Acts of the Apostles (1:9-12). While in the act of blessing them, Jesus was carried up to heaven. Jesus led the eleven to Bethany, not far from Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke is even more brief in its description (24:50-51). No description of the Ascension itself is given Mark simply states that it happened. After delivering these final words, Jesus is received into heaven to sit at the right hand of God. Jesus commands his followers to spread the Gospel, and that those who believe will be known by their invulnerability to poison, ability to heal the sick, and the like. Jesus and the remaining eleven disciples are seated at a table, presumably in a room in or near Jerusalem. Artists within the orbit of Venice were often influenced by such Byzantine traditions.The first account of the Ascension found in the Bible is in the Gospel of Mark (16:14-19). The painter, arguably the most significant artist of the early Renaissance, may have been influenced by a verse in medieval Ascension liturgies: ‘The Lord leads captivity captive, climbing on high to his holy place on Sinai.’ Christ’s hands pierce the frame of the image, a device employed for centuries in iconography. Giotto’s delicate fresco, part of a cycle, in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua portrays Christ in profile, as if climbing. And they went out and preached elsewhere.’ Christ’s return to Heaven was the ultimate symbol of his divinity. In an extraordinarily concise passage, St Mark’s Gospel summarises the Ascension in two sentences: ‘So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into Heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Christ is accompanied on his ascent by two angels who, according to the New Testament Book of Acts, promise that: ‘This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into Heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into Heaven.’ Various accounts claim that St Paul the Apostle was also present, as well as the Virgin Mary, depicted by Giotto in blue, an expensive pigment worthy of the Mother of God. The climactic event of his time on Earth is witnessed by 11 of his 12 Disciples: Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver, had hanged himself in shame. Forty days after his resurrection, Christ, shrouded in clouds, ascends to Heaven.
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