Journey to the Ascension with Jesus: Will God Heal Your Broken Heart?

The answer is yes!

In John 10:10, Jesus explains part of his mission by making this statement:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

This is one of the most important verses in the Bible. In this verse, Jesus draws a contrast between what has happened in much of human history (and in our lives) and what he (Jesus) comes to do about it.

Part of what Jesus did as he journeyed with his disciples from the resurrection to the ascension was to heal their broken hearts.

Have no doubt: the disciples had broken hearts as they witnessed the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus. The leader they'd seen perform miracles, debate his divinity with the religious authorities, and explain a plan for a new way of living had been unjustly arrested, tortured, and killed. They were unable to prevent this series of events and it seemed Jesus himself was unable to prevent the events that led to his death.

The disciples hid in fear of the authorities between the death and resurrection. Even after hearing the news of his resurrection from Mary Magdalene, there was doubt. One of Jesus' followers, Thomas, said he would not believe in a resurrection unless he saw the wounds in Jesus hands and side.

When Thomas finally encountered Jesus face-to-face and had the proof, Thomas' reaction was "my Lord and my God!"

This was the beginning of the healing.

What happens when God heals your heart?  There is no set formula to answer this question. Every heart is unique and every heart that is broken is broken in a unique way. Every heart that is ever healed is healed in a unique way. 

How do we know the disciples had their hearts healed by Jesus? We can know in three ways.

First, they had the courage to do what they feared to do before the ascension. After the ascension, these followers, who previously hid in fear of arrest and punishment, spoke out bravely explaining why Jesus was the anointed one of God, the one who would restore humanity to its original purpose of love, peace, true pleasure, and connection with God. The disciples lost their fear. Even though tradition says all but one of them died a martyr's death, they did not let fear stop them. Knowing they must die at some point in time, they completed their mission and did not let fear of death stop them. Having lost their fear of dying, they lost their fear of many lesser things as well.

Second, they had a joyful journey because they understood their purpose. If you read the writings of (some) of the apostles in the New Testament, you will find their descriptions of challenge, of being misunderstood and misrepresented, of frustration when working with the church in its early days. In the middle of all of this, they had a joyful journey because they understood success was not about getting all and only of what they wanted. They understood success meant completing your God-given mission. They understood success meant staying connected to God during all of the challenges and setbacks of life. They understood they weren't working alone. They understood they had the company and companionship of the Holy Spirit, that presence of God-dwelling-within that was promised by Jesus before he ascended. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) In essence, they disciples had a joyful journey because they had power. They had power from God, and knew this power from God they needed to live a meaningful life could never be taken away.

Third, they knew Jesus still lived. The ascension is important and never should be forgotten or ignored because he ascension proves Jesus still lives. They knew the resurrected Jesus didn't come back to life and then die again as an old man somewhere in Palestine because he ascended. They knew Jesus was alive and always will be alive because he ascended. In Revelation chapter one, John, who sees the ascended Jesus, writes these words while living in exile: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. (Revelation 1:4-5). John could write these words with certainty because he heard directly from the ascended Jesus.

How will God heal your broken heart? If there are a thousand broken hearts, there are a thousand ways to heal them. God's healing of your heart is a personal matter between you and God. When you ask, God will answer. As he heals your heart, you will know less fear than you've ever known, you will have the power to live a purposeful life worth living, and you will never lose your personal connection with Jesus Christ, who makes it all possible.