Ascension Day, it doesn’t have a public holiday attached to it, no one gets the day off work, and there is often no special church service remembering it. These may be the very reasons why in the lives of believers this day often seems to be one of oblivion; slipping by unspoken of and more than often unobserved. However, regardless of our regular lack of attention to this day. This, the 40th day after Christ’s resurrection, the very day that Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father was recorded in the gospels of Mark and Luke, while also in the book of Acts. The very reference to this event in scripture makes it important and there is great joy to be found in remembering it. So my hope is that today 40 days after you have celebrated the joys of the resurrected Christ you will see the great joy also in the ascension of Christ.
So, I want to offer you today 5 joys of Christ’s ascension. There are more, but here are five for you to think on today.
A Fulfilment of Biblical Prophecy
Psalm 68:18 prophecies of Christ’s ascension and Paul makes it clear the psalmist was talking about Christ’s ascension when he quotes the psalmist in Ephesians 4:8-9 where he himself is referring to the descension and ascension of Christ.
So, the ascension is another fulfilled prophecy by Christ serving as another proof that He is the promised Messiah in whom the Hope of eternal life is found.
A Confirmation of Christ’s Resurrection in the Flesh
42 days after watching Christ die on the cross, 40 days after His tomb is found bodiless, and after numerous physical encounters with the resurrected Christ the disciples got to see Him ascend in the flesh. Their ability to see Him go just serves as more compounding proof that He rose not as a bodiless spirit, but in physical flesh.
Christ the Preceding King
Angels told the disciples in Act 1:9-11 heaven was Christ’s destination. Stephan in Acts 7:55-56 had a vision of Christ in heaven standing at the right hand of God. Ephesians 1:20-21 says, “God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”
So, in His ascension Christ took the throne and presides as King of Kings and Lord of Lords of all for all time.
The Continued Work of Christ
Christ ascension was not a means to His retirement. Rather, He is working for His glory and the eternal joy of His sheep as He advocates (1 John 2:1) and intercedes (Heb. 7:25, Rom. 8:34) for them before the Father. What a joy to think that His work as the good shepherd and high priest did not terminate at His ascension but is ongoing on your behalf.
The Gift of The Spirit
Jesus tells the disciples and us in John 16:7-11 that it is advantageous for Him to leave because in His leaving ,He will send us the gift of the Spirit. The Spirit is such a joyous gift to us because it is the Spirit that awakens our hearts to our sin and need for salvation through, it is the Spirit that makes Christ’s sacrifice look beautiful and essential to us, it is the Spirit that helps us know who God is by revealing the truth of Scripture to us, it is the Spirit that transforms us through the word into the likeness of Christ, it is the Spirit that empowers us to bear witness to others about Christ. In essence the Spirit is a joyous gift because He enables us to know God, love God, and live God glorifying lives
Therefore, let’s not forget ascension day as there is much joy in the events and preceding realities which flowed from it.
All Glory To God.
