Ascension Day

Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! -Psalm 24:7-8

Did you know that Thursday, May 9th is the Feast of the Ascension? It is the day on the church calendar that is set aside to remember, reflect, and celebrate the ascension of our Lord Jesus. While many did not know that there was an official “ascension day,” many also cannot tell you why the ascension of Jesus is important to our faith. The ascension was a significant historical event.  It was the coronation of the Lord Jesus as the King of Kings. The ascension also points to our hope in Him. In the ascension, we are reminded of our union, assurance, and authority in Christ. 

Just as the resurrection has life-changing connotations for our lives, so Christ’s ascension has momentous implications for us as well. We are united with Christ in every aspect of his work of redemption. Christ’s going into heaven foreshadows our future ascension into heaven with him. Paul reminds us of this beautiful truth in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

Jesus’s ascension also reminds us of the magnificent assurance that our final home will be in heaven with our Lord. Jesus spoke of this day when he described a future home in His Father’s house (John 14:2-3). Jesus was a man like us in every way yet without sin, and he has gone before us so that eventually we might follow him there and live with him forever. This assurance is the picture of a future consummation when all things will be restored. Because of this truth, there will come a day when we will return to perfect fellowship with our Lord, in His presence eternally. 

Finally, because of our union with Christ in His ascension, we can share in Christ’s authority over the universe through the work of the Church. Paul reminded the church in Ephesus of this when he proclaimed that God, “raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6).” Jesus currently sits at the right hand of God to reign and rule for all eternity. Our union with him grants us the position to share in this authority in the present age and the age that is to come. Jesus promised, “He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself received power from my Father (Revelation 2:26-27).” This truth is significant when considering the church's work until the Lord returns. We are united with Him with the authority to proclaim the truth of the gospel; to love and lead His creation until the end of time.

While the ascension of the Lord Jesus is not remembered by the church with the same weightiness as Christ’s death and resurrection, it’s vitally important that we understand and walk its power. In the ascension, we further realize our union, assurance, and authority in the new self (2 Corinthians 5:17), the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are in Christ for a purpose. That purpose is to put on display the Glory of His name to the ends of the earth.  Never forgetting, “that He is with us, until the end of this age (Matthew 28:20).”

I love you and consider it a privilege to serve as your pastor.

Blessings,

Bro. Kris