Christ Going Up to Heaven: No. 47

In Short

This slim Victorian religious volume retells the biblical story of Christ's ascension for young readers. It follows Jesus taking a final walk with his devoted friends near Jerusalem, blessing them on Mount Olivet, and rising into the clouds. The narrative explains his ultimate destination on the throne of God, the comforting presence of the Holy Spirit, and the eventual promise of his return. Written by the author of Peep of Day, the book endures as a historical example of nineteenth-century juvenile religious instruction, blending narrative scripture, gentle direct addresses, hymns, and prayers designed to shape the spiritual inner life of a child.

The Story

The account opens by locating the Son of God on his heavenly throne, prompting the reader to wonder how he arrived there from his earthly life. Six weeks prior to his departure, Jesus suffered crucifixion and burial, yet triumphed over death and emerged from his grave. The lingering marks of the nails on his hands and feet, alongside the wound in his side, serve as enduring proofs of his sacrifice for human sin. On the day of his ascension, Jesus takes a final walk with his companions, who love him dearly and cherish his company. They converse about his Father and the heavenly realm, while Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit down to earth to dwell within the hearts of believers, making them good and happy.

Leaving the town of Jerusalem, Jesus leads his friends along a familiar path across a stream, past an olive garden, and up the green slopes of Mount Olivet. Reaching the summit, he pauses to pray and lifts his hands to pronounce a blessing. Suddenly, a cloud envelops him and carries him upward into the sky until he vanishes from sight. As his friends gaze into the heavens, two angels dressed in shining white appear to comfort them, assuring them that Jesus will return in the exact same manner.

Rather than returning to Jerusalem in despair, the companions walk back with gladness because they know he has gone to pray to his Father and will soon dispatch the promised Comforter. Ten days later, the Holy Spirit arrives. The text likens this divine comfort to a mother tenderly soothing a hurt child, assuring the reader that God forgives sins and prepares a home in heaven. The narrative concludes with instructional hymns and a structured prayer asking for pardon, divine guidance, and readiness for the second coming of Christ.

How It Unfolds

• The final walk: Jesus gathers with his friends in Jerusalem, displaying the healed nail marks of his crucifixion and speaking of his impending departure to heaven.
• The ascent: Leading his companions up the green slopes of Mount Olivet, Jesus prays, raises his hands in blessing, and is lifted away by a cloud.
• The heavenly messengers: Two shining angels appear on the mountain top to comfort the bewildered friends and promise the eventual return of Jesus.
• The return to joy: The companions walk back to Jerusalem not in sorrow, but with glad hearts, trusting in the promise of the Holy Spirit.
• The arrival of the Comforter: Ten days after the ascension, the Holy Spirit descends to guide believers, offering a tenderness that surpasses earthly comfort.
• The closing devotion: The book transitions from narrative history into practical application, offering hymns and a formal prayer for young readers to internalize.

The People

• Jesus: The central figure who walked the earth, died for human sins, and rose again. He wants to reassure his followers, prepare them for his absence, and guide them toward eternal life. Though physical separation halts their daily walks, his primary goal is accomplished as he ascends to the throne of his Father.
• The friends of Jesus: His devoted companions who love him deeply and enjoy walking by his side. They want to hold onto his physical presence, but uncertainty and grief stand temporarily in their way until angels and the Holy Spirit reassure them, leaving them ultimately joyful and spiritually fortified.
• The angels: Heavenly beings dressed in bright white who appear on Mount Olivet. They want to comfort the grieving companions, and they succeed by delivering the prophetic promise of Christ's eventual return.
• The reader (the child): The targeted young audience addressed directly by the author. They face the invisible realities of sin, judgment, and faith, with the text acting as a guide to help them seek the Holy Spirit and welcome Jesus gladly upon his return.

In Its Own Voice

Once the Son of God walked about this world, but he is not here now.

This opening line establishes the historical premise of the narrative, drawing the young reader immediately into the central mystery of Christ's whereabouts.

Whenever his friends looked at those marks, they thought of his love in dying for them, for it was for their sins he died, and not for theirs only, but for your sins, also, my child.

This passage bridges the historical crucifixion with the personal spiritual life of the reader, directly implicating the child in the theology of redemption.

Why do you stand looking up towards heaven? Jesus shall come again in the same way that you have seen him go into heaven.

Spoken by the angels on Mount Olivet, these words redirect the grief of the disciples toward future hope and expectation.

What It's Really About

Beneath its simple surface, the book explores the mechanics of spiritual absence and presence, grappling with how believers maintain a relationship with a divine figure who is physically removed from the earth. It examines the transition from physical companionship—walking side-by-side with Jesus in the countryside—to an internal spiritual communion mediated by the Holy Spirit. The text also investigates the psychological weight of accountability, contrasting the terror of the unrepentant facing judgment with the joyful anticipation of the righteous. Ultimately, it serves as an instructional framework for internalizing doctrine through emotional associations, equating divine comfort with the unconditional warmth of maternal care.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers interested in religious history, Victorian children's literature, or the evolution of pedagogical theology will find this book a fascinating artifact. Reading it offers an intimate glimpse into nineteenth-century domestic and spiritual education, where abstract dogma was deliberately translated into pastoral, sensory language involving green fields, singing birds, and motherly comfort.

However, contemporary readers must navigate the severe pedagogical tone characteristic of the era, particularly the stark moral binary that threatens unrepentant children with eternal torment. The prose is unapologetically didactic, directly addressing the reader as "my child" to demand introspection and emotional compliance. For those willing to approach it as a historical window rather than a modern storybook, the reward is an appreciation of how Victorian writers sought to instill comfort, reverence, and existential readiness in young minds through rhythmic cadence and vivid biblical imagery.