The Ascension of Jesus is one of the most profound and significant events in the Christian faith. It marks the moment when Jesus Christ, after spending 40 days with His disciples following His resurrection, was physically taken up into heaven. This moment signifies the completion of Jesus’ earthly ministry and ushers in the next phase of His work: the establishment of the Church through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Ascension is not only important for what it signals about the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry but also for its deep theological implications. It affirms Jesus’ divine identity, solidifies His role as the victorious Savior, and foreshadows His eventual return. The Ascension is a pivotal moment that connects the past, present, and future of the Christian faith, offering believers a lasting sense of hope, purpose, and spiritual empowerment.
What Is the Ascension of Jesus?
The Ascension refers to the moment when Jesus Christ, after spending forty days with His disciples post-resurrection, was taken up into heaven in their presence. This moment is described in key passages from the Bible, including Acts 1:9-11 and Luke 24:50-53. After appearing to His disciples for forty days, teaching them about the Kingdom of God and preparing them for their mission, Jesus leads His followers to the Mount of Olives. There, He gives them His final blessing before ascending into the sky. As they watch, He disappears from their sight, and two angels appear to assure them that He will return in the same way.
This event is not simply the departure of Jesus from the world; it’s a transformative moment that completes His mission and ushers in a new phase in the salvation story. While Jesus’ death and resurrection are central to the redemption of mankind, the Ascension marks the final step in the accomplishment of His divine mission, signaling the beginning of the global spread of the Gospel through His followers.
The Biblical Account of the Ascension
The Ascension of Jesus is described in several key biblical passages, each offering unique perspectives on this monumental event.
- Acts 1:9-11 is the most detailed account of the Ascension. In this passage, Luke tells us that after speaking to His disciples, Jesus was lifted up and a cloud took Him out of their sight. The disciples stood there, gazing into the sky, wondering what had just happened. At that moment, two men dressed in white—angels—appeared and told the disciples that Jesus would return in the same way He left. This passage emphasizes the dramatic nature of Jesus’ departure, as well as the promise of His return.
- Luke 24:50-53 provides a more concise account. Jesus leads His disciples out to Bethany, where He blesses them before ascending into heaven. After witnessing His Ascension, the disciples return to Jerusalem, filled with joy and continually praising God. This passage highlights the joy and anticipation that accompanied the Ascension, as well as the disciples’ readiness to carry on the mission of Jesus.
These passages collectively underline the importance of the Ascension, both as the completion of Jesus’ earthly work and as a precursor to the empowering of the disciples to continue His mission.
Theological Significance of the Ascension
The Ascension holds deep theological significance for Christians. It affirms key truths about Jesus, His work on earth, and the ongoing mission of the Church.
Affirmation of Jesus’ Divinity
The Ascension is a powerful affirmation of Jesus’ divine identity. While He was on earth, Jesus was fully human, experiencing the same physical limitations as the rest of humanity. But in His Ascension, He is glorified and returns to His rightful place at the right hand of God the Father. As John 17:5 illustrates, Jesus prayed to be restored to the glory He had with the Father before the world began. The Ascension confirms that Jesus is not just a great teacher or prophet, but the Son of God with eternal authority and power.
By ascending to heaven, Jesus demonstrates His unique and divine nature. His return to the Father marks the fulfillment of His earthly mission and signifies that He has completed the work of salvation, reconciling humanity with God through His death and resurrection.
A Moment of Glory and Triumph
The Ascension is also a moment of glory and triumph. It is not a moment of sorrow, but one of victory. Jesus has completed His mission, defeating the power of sin and death through His resurrection. His Ascension marks His exaltation to the highest place, fulfilling God’s plan for salvation. As Philippians 2:9-11 tells us, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name.” The Ascension is a public declaration of Jesus’ victory over death, a moment when the Father acknowledges the Son’s finished work on earth.
The Ascension is the moment when Jesus’ full glory is revealed as He takes His seat at the right hand of God, a position of power and honor. For Christians, this represents the assurance that Jesus is sovereign over all things, and His reign is eternal.
The Promise of Jesus’ Return
The Ascension also holds the promise of Jesus’ return. As the disciples look on, the angels assure them that Jesus will return in the same way He ascended. This promise is significant because it points forward to the Second Coming of Christ, a moment when He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. The Ascension serves as a reminder that Jesus will one day come again to complete the work He began and to establish God’s eternal Kingdom.
The promise of Jesus’ return is a source of great hope for Christians, as it assures them that this world is not the final chapter. Jesus’ return will bring about the restoration of all things, and believers are encouraged to live in anticipation of His return, knowing that they will share in His glory.
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The Ascension and the Holy Spirit
Preparing for Pentecost
Before He ascends, Jesus promises His disciples that He will send the Holy Spirit to empower them for the mission ahead. This is an essential aspect of the Ascension. Jesus’ departure from earth was necessary for the coming of the Holy Spirit, who would equip His followers for the task of spreading the Gospel. In John 14:16-17, Jesus tells His disciples, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”
The Ascension, therefore, marks a transition. While Jesus’ physical presence is removed from the earth, His spiritual presence continues through the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is what enables the Church to fulfill its mission to spread the message of salvation to the world.
The Continuing Presence of Jesus
Though Jesus ascends into heaven, His work does not end. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus continues to be present with His followers, guiding them, teaching them, and empowering them for the work ahead. The Holy Spirit acts as the ongoing presence of Jesus on earth, reminding believers that He has not left them abandoned but remains with them in a different, yet powerful, form.
In Matthew 28:20, Jesus assures His disciples, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in the lives of believers is a direct result of the Ascension, and it enables Christians to continue Jesus’ work on earth.
The Ascension and Christian Hope
Living with an Eternal Perspective
The Ascension calls Christians to adopt an eternal perspective. As Colossians 3:1-2 teaches, believers are called to set their hearts and minds on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. The Ascension reminds Christians that their ultimate hope is not in the temporary things of this world, but in the eternal promises of God.
Living with an eternal perspective means focusing on the Kingdom of God and living out God’s purposes, even while on earth. The Ascension encourages believers to live in anticipation of Jesus’ return, knowing that their actions have eternal significance.
Empowered for Mission
The Ascension also emphasizes the global mission that Jesus entrusted to His followers. Before ascending, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The Ascension reminds Christians that their mission on earth continues and that they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the Gospel.
Jesus’ departure is not an abandonment but an invitation to believers to carry out His work. The Ascension highlights the fact that Christians are called to be His witnesses, not in their own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Celebrating the Ascension
Ascension Day in the Christian Calendar
Ascension Day is celebrated 40 days after Easter and marks the official end of the Easter season. While it may not be as widely recognized as other holidays like Christmas or Easter, it remains an important observance in many Christian traditions. Churches celebrate this day with services that focus on the Ascension’s significance, offering prayers, hymns, and Scripture readings that reflect on Jesus’ return to the Father.
Ascension and Pentecost
The Ascension is closely connected with Pentecost, which occurs 10 days after Ascension Day. Pentecost marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, empowering them to carry out the mission that Jesus had given them. The Ascension sets the stage for the coming of the Holy Spirit, making it a pivotal event in the life of the early Church.
Conclusion
The Ascension of Jesus is far more than just a historical event—it is a deeply theological and spiritually significant moment that marks the completion of Jesus’ earthly work and the beginning of His ongoing work through the Church. Through the Ascension, Jesus affirms His divinity, promises His return, and sends the Holy Spirit to empower His followers. For Christians, the Ascension serves as a reminder of the eternal hope they have in Christ and the responsibility they carry to continue His mission on earth, knowing that He is with them every step of the way.
References:
- Acts 1:9-11
- Luke 24:50-53
- John 14:16-17
- Philippians 2:9-11
- Colossians 3:1-2
- Matthew 28:19-20
- Wikipedia.org
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