Thursday, May 18, 2023 marks the 1,993rd anniversary of the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven. Unlike Christmas and Easter, this celebration of the culmination of our Lord’s earthly ministry does not receive much attention culturally. In some nations, Ascension Day was a public holiday, but in our post-Christian era, we have adopted new “holy” days.
So, what happened on that amazing day almost 2,000 years ago? Jesus and his disciples were gathered on the Mount of Olives just across the valley from Jerusalem, and in the sight of His disciples, Jesus was taken up into heaven. From the description that we are given in Acts, Jesus entered the Shekinah cloud, the supernatural cloud that was sometimes manifested to show God’s presence.
Through His ascension, Jesus Christ now rules from Heaven at the right hand of the Father until He returns to judge the living and the dead.
“This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” ~Acts 1:11b
It is important to keep in mind that Jesus, the eternal Son of God, exists in Heaven in His glorified human body. His physical body is not present on the earth any longer. However, because of His truly divine nature, we are not separated at all from our risen and ascended Lord. In addition, we have the continued ministry of the Holy Spirit. We should commemorate the powerful coming of the Holy Spirit just ten days after Ascension Day, on Sunday, May 28, 2023.
Question 49 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks, “What benefit do we receive from Christ’s ascension to heaven?”
Three points of benefit are shared in the answer:
First, our Advocate, the one who intercedes for us and rules over us, is in the presence of His Father in heaven.
Second, we have our flesh in heaven, which provides us complete assurance that He, as the Head, will also one day take us to Himself.
Third, we have been given the Holy Spirit as the assurance that our great God will complete the work of redemption and the renewal of all creation. It is through the Holy Spirit that we are able to seek those things which are above and not just things on the earth.
So, what does this all mean for us as Christians living in an increasingly hostile world now, where it seems that things are only getting worse? The Christian life is always one of faith, based on the truth God has given to us, and it is assured through the Holy Spirit. The prophet Habakkuk, in assessing the tumult of the nation of Judah and the horror of the coming Babylonian invasion, was told the just shall live by faith. The key to faith is knowing the truth that God has revealed to us.
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” ~1 John 5:4
Second, we consider that we are not the first generation to live through incredible difficulty. As much as we lament the situation we are facing, we must keep in mind that those who came before us endured even greater trials. They were strengthened as they looked to the Lord; we must do the same.
Third, the glorious truth of our Lord’s ascension and victory must be kept in mind especially when we are tempted to compromise. Satan has nothing to offer us. The world has nothing to offer us. Let us make sure we keep our focus where it ought to be.
The Apostle Paul in Colossians 3, after challenging the believers in Colossae to keep their focus on things above, then gave warning about putting to death fleshly desires: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. The wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
The victory belongs to Christ, but we must make sure we live and fight on His terms! Take time today to rejoice in the triumph of our Lord. May this glorious truth equip you for continued spiritual battle.
“Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” ~Romans 8:37
