The Event and Its Significance
The Ascension of Jesus stands as one of the most pivotal moments in Christian history, yet it remains somewhat misunderstood in our churches today. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus led His disciples to the Mount of Olives and was taken up into heaven before their eyes (Acts 1:9-11). This wasn't a quiet departure but a visible, bodily ascension that authenticated everything Jesus had promised. The disciples watched as a cloud received Him out of their sight, and two angels assured them that this same Jesus would return in the same way they had seen Him go.
What makes the Ascension so theologically crucial is what it accomplished. Jesus didn't simply disappear; He ascended to take His seat at the right hand of God the Father (Ephesians 1:20-21). This position of honor and authority demonstrates that Jesus's work on the cross was complete and accepted by the Father. Hebrews 10:12 tells us that after offering one sacrifice for sins, He "sat down at the right hand of God." His ascension wasn't an ending but a transition—from His earthly ministry to His heavenly ministry as our Great High Priest and Advocate.
Connection to Pentecost and Our Present Hope
The Ascension is inextricably linked to Pentecost. Before ascending, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for "the gift my Father promised" (Acts 1:4). Only after Christ returned to heaven could He send the Holy Spirit to fill His followers with power for witnessing. In John 16:7, Jesus explained that it was actually better for Him to go away so that the Helper would come. The Ascension, then, wasn't a loss but the prerequisite for the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in believers.
Today, the Ascension reminds us that Jesus is actively interceding for us in heaven. Romans 8:34 assures us that "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." When we face trials, temptations, or despair, we can take comfort knowing our Savior is present with the Father, pleading our case and securing our victory.
Living in Light of the Ascension
The Ascension should transform how we live. Since our Lord has ascended to heaven, our citizenship is there too (Philippians 3:20). This means we're to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2). We're not merely waiting passively for Christ's return; we're called to advance His kingdom here and now, knowing His kingdom is already established in heaven.
The promise of His return, grounded in His ascension, gives us hope and motivation. As we serve Christ in our communities, workplaces, and families across Canada, we do so with the certainty that He reigns and will one day return to complete His redemptive work. This is our blessed hope.
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." — Philippians 2:9-11