The Ascension of Christ

Goodbyes are not easy, especially if we will be gone for a long time. One of the hardest goodbyes that anyone has to say is to an elderly family member or friend because we know it may be the last time we will see them.  We have recorded for us in the Scriptures the goodbye between Jesus and His disciples. It must have been a difficult goodbye for Jesus’ followers. However, it was necessary for Jesus to ascend back into heaven.

In Acts 1, Luke recorded Jesus’ instructions that they should not leave Jerusalem, but should wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them, and then they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Luke then wrote, “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’               (Acts 1:9-11). There are several reasons why the ascension of Christ was necessary:

There had to be a final moment when Jesus returned to heaven. Imagine if the appearances of the resurrected Christ just simply faded out. There would be something wrong and indefinite about that. There had to be a day dividing when the Jesus of earth would become the Christ of heaven. The ascension marked the transition from His earthly ministry to His heavenly ministry. Behind Him was the persecution of men, before Him was the rejoicing of angels. Behind Him was the cruel cross, before Him was the glorious crown. So the ascension was necessary because there had to be a final moment when Jesus left the earth.

Jesus’ going allowed for the Spirit’s coming. Jesus told His disciples, “But now I am going to Him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ but because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:5-7). Jesus continued saying, “I still have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak and He will declare the things that are to come”     (John 16:12-14). The going of Jesus allowed for the coming of the Spirit and the coming of the Spirit ushered in the beginning of the church in Acts 2.

The ascension allowed Jesus to begin His permanent, heavenly ministry. Just as the grave could not hold Him when His Father raised Him from the dead, the earth could not hold Him when the time came for Him to return to His Father. “He was taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). In heaven, at God’s right hand, Jesus is our interceding high priest, giving us the grace that we need for life and service. “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14). He is also our advocate with the Father. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). We have proof that Jesus ascended and is now ministering at the right hand of God. When Stephen was on trial before the Sanhedrin, he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’ (Acts 7:55-56).  The ascended Christ is very much alive and active in heaven.

The ascension was necessary for His return. Jesus could not return if He never left. Before their eyes that very day, Jesus began ascending into heaven in a way that would be described as dignified and majestic. No whirlwind came along and swept Him away like it happened with Elijah. Rather, as He ascended, a cloud appeared and hid Jesus from their gaze. Unlike the transfiguration, where Jesus remained after the cloud disappeared, in the ascension, Jesus did not remain after the cloud hid Him. There the disciples stood gazing into the sky, when they were interrupted by two men in white robes standing beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “Why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus who was taken up into heaven, will come in the same way you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). The ascension testifies to the fact that the Lord will return. The disciples were not told that they themselves would see the coming again of Christ. The time is left open and to speculate when His return will be is ridiculous and foolish. Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a place for those who will live for Him. “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am going you may be also” (John 14:1-3).

Are you ready for His return?