Over the last few years, I have had the joy and privilege of traveling to a little over a dozen different countries, and I’m always fascinated by the reality that the story of Scripture has shaped that culture. Whether it’s a Christmas market in Vienna or the Rockettes in New York City, Christmas is widely celebrated throughout the world and is a reminder to us all that the birth of Christ is a monumental celebration that God is with us. Immanuel.
A few short months later, the Western world yet again comes to a full climax through the celebration of Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
These two major celebrations highlight the Incarnation (Christmas) and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (Easter). But somehow, we often forget to celebrate the Ascension of Christ.
What is the Ascension?
The Ascension of Jesus is just as much a part of the gospel as the cross. In John 20, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene after his resurrection and reminded her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’” (John 20:17, ESV). Christ’s resurrection reminds us that He has power over the sin, death, and the grave, but His ascension reminds us that He is not leaving us alone. He sent the fullness of the Holy Spirit. And not only that, but His Ascension also gives us a visible sign of His Second Coming.
Acts 1:9–11 (ESV) states, “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’”
The Ascension is both a reminder of the Spirit being with us and the promise of Christ’s return.
Just as Christ ascended to heaven on Mount Olivet forty days after his resurrection, the Ascension has traditionally been celebrated forty days after Easter. Some churches that follow liturgical traditions signify this in their public worship with the Paschal candle. This large candle often stays front and center in the church year-round, but it is only lit on Easter morning (or at the Easter Vigil), symbolizing the power of the resurrection and Jesus’s victory over sin and death. Forty days later, on Ascension Sunday, that same candle that has been burning for forty days will be put out. Again, this is a visual reminder that Christ ascended into heaven and will one day return again.
Remembering the Ascension
Perhaps Ascension Sunday is something that’s familiar to you, or perhaps like many of us, it is something we’ve never considered. May today be a day where you take time to pray a prayer of gratitude. May we all thank God for his birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and His Ascension. May we thank Him for sending the Holy Spirit to us to be our Advocate and Helper. May we thank Him for the promise that He will one day come again to rule and to reign with all power and might and defeat the enemy once and for all.
As we long for His return, my prayer is that the Ascension of Christ might not be forgotten in our hearts or minds, but celebrated with the same joy and enthusiasm as we would celebrate the most magical white Christmas at the Rockefeller Center in New York City.
