This is not over-familiarizing God. Issues surrounding the ascension narratives are not confined to Mark. Jesus was not supposed to leave, according to their plan. The Ascension of Jesus: What It Is, Why It's Often Overlooked & More . In the days following Galileo and astrophysics, Newton and neural exploration, Copernicus and cloning, the ascent seems ridiculous. . May we celebrate that our Lord is reigning from heaven as the one true King, and may we rejoice that we have the Holy Spirit as our ever-present advocate. 2. The resurrection of Jesus is important for several reasons. Luke wrote a two-part history of the origins of Christianity. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. . Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. This could help explain why some people speak of the resurrection and then stop. The Ascension of Jesus - What was the Meaning and - Christianity Thats why Peter connects Jesus exaltation and the outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2:33: Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. If so, what would that prayer sound like today? Why Was The Ascension Of Jesus Important? | Jack Wellman - Patheos He has returned to his Father and ours to intercede on our behalf. And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.(Acts 7:5556). It occurs 39 days after Easter Sunday. However, a harmful underside lurks beneath this. Peter spent a significant amount of time in his first sermon on the fact that God raised [Jesus] up (Acts 2:24, 32). Its not enough to celebrate the Risen Lord on one spring Sunday and then forget about what comes next. Thus, the ascension is a critically important doctrine, one that is not a mere abstract teaching, one that has important implications for how we live. He did not die this timehe left. Why do we continue to confess our sins and seek forgiveness even after professing faith in Christs salvific death? May we eagerly await His return and fervently share the Gospel until He does. Lukes Gospel begins with the account of Jesus birth and ends with his ascension. The ascended Lord will return as judge and king. It always falls on the fortieth day from Easter and, since Easter always falls on a Sunday, Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday; it is frequently called "Holy Thursday.". If, on the other hand, it be established that Jesus of Nazareth did indeed rise from the dead, then it is equally certain that He ascended into heaven. The meaning of the Ascension for Christians is derived from their belief in the glorification and exaltation of Jesus following his death and Resurrection, as well as from the theme of his return to God the Father. ), Nate Palmer says this: Without an ascended Christ, there is no High Priest ruling and reigning over all creation, our assurance of heaven is in serious doubt, and we would not be living temples in which Gods Spirit resides helping us understand the things of God. But the promise of the power of the Holy Spirit, so they will be his witnesses throughout the earth (Acts 1:8), may be the content of that blessing. By entering heaven as the representative of mankind, He completed the work of our salvation and guaranteed the eventual glorification of all who love Him. May 12, 2020 Why is the ascension important? Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. The biblical authors viewed Christs act of rising as incomplete until Christ sat on his glorious throne. It shows that Jesus was fully God and fully man. They were not expecting the ascension. Atonement in the Old Testament wasnt accomplished simply by slaughtering animals; their bodies and blood had to be brought to the altars by priests with prayers offered. Jesus's ascension is his heavenly enthronement as King. The ascension, when understood, becomes an irreplaceable, important resource for living our lives in the worldand its a resource no other religion or philosophy of life holds out to us.. According to Revelation 3:21 Jesus conquered and sat down with his Father on his throne, where he receives unending praise (Revelation 5:613). Answer. The ascension becomes the springboard for his disciples to carry out the work they were prepared for throughout the Gospel narrative.12 All rights reserved. Rachel Dawson What topic related to Christianity, faith, and the Bible is trending online and in social media today? The Significance of Jesus' Resurrection: Why It Matters Today This year, it will take place on May 9. [/note] Jesuss kingdom cannot be destroyed and will not pass away! Perhaps the closest analogy is a courageous, wounded soldier returning to his loved ones after a hard-fought victory. He was granted his wish to die the next day. We can only speculate, but it may have been for the same reason that we have a coronation ceremony. If you feel led by God to support us, we would greatly appreciate any gifts to our general fund. See Alan J. Thompson, The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Lukes Account of God's Unfolding Plan (NSBT 27; Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2011), 4850. The preceding reflections do not do full justice to the significance of Jesus ascension. Jesus love extends beyond the Crosshis death, resurrection, and ongoing intercession at Gods right hand are essential for his peoples salvation. Though the disciples struggled with the concept of Jesus . The truth is not that Jesus became a baby at Christmas, and then 33 years later came the resurrection and ascension and then He stopped being a man. I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. If the resurrection be denied, then of course there is no room for ascension. Andrew Wilson goes on to add, We must in any case understand objectively the statement that Jesus Christ was taken up from earth into heaven before the eyes of the disciples. Acts 1 makes this clear to us. , See Matthew 25:3136; John 5:27; Acts 17:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:510; Revelation 22:12. The missing description of the ascension in some manuscripts may be attributed to early Christian groups disliking the idea of physical ascension. 2. Luke 24:13 tells of Jesus appearance to two men on the road to Emmaus on that very day (i.e., the day the empty tomb was found). Suffering is a part of human life, just as it was part of Jesus' life. Volume one is the gospel that bears his name. The stoop of God to human form was not for a period merely. The ascension was considered more important to earlier generations of Christians than it is today. The reality of ongoing sin requires ongoing confession and forgiveness of sin. He has become a permanent member of the human race. If Jesus were here on earth, a number of things would be easier. Ascension Day celebrates Christ's exaltation. Its true the ascension is a neglected doctrine today, perhaps because we fail to explore the full implications of it. This can be seen by the following premises and conclusions: In some ways, the ascension appears like the worst plan ever. Here I want to highlight six aspects of Jesuss ascension or exaltation, in hopes that this significant and climactic event in Jesuss life will no longer be an afterthought for you. If the resurrection fully confirms Jesus lordship, then the ascension becomes an anticlimax. As we walk with Him and commune with Him in this world, we experience a faint foretaste of Heavens delights and wonders. This is the reality of which he spoke when he addressed the bewildered disciples in John 14, And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. Thus, the Christians great and blessed hope, the hope of the resurrection of the dead and eternal life in the new Jerusalem, is intimately tied to Christs first going up. The men ask the disciples why they continue to look toward heaven, for Jesus will come the same way they saw him going (, poreuomai; Acts 1:11).16. Its Meaning and Importance in Christianity, How to Move from Being a Hearer to a Doer of the Word. Please make sure all fields are filled out. For just as Jesus went into heaven, so will all Christians. Christ is risen from the dead and has ascended into the heavens. . Shame and guilt will launch an all-out attack on our confidence if we allow doubtful, worrisome, and anxious thoughts to spin into a destructive tornado. Only two places in the Scriptures narrate the eventthe end of Luke and the beginning of Acts (cf. How Can Christians Know if They're Trapped in Culture Wars? resurrection & ascension) as thesalvific event.[i]. Thus Gods kingdom has been inaugurated through the enthronement of Jesus, who now sits on heavens throne and will return to consummate his kingdom on earth as in heaven. Ascension Day is generally observed on a Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter. ). (Lexham Bible Dictionary, included in the free Logos Bible app. He ascended to Gods presence in the heavenly Holy of Holies once for all time. Ascension Day is celebrated on a Thursday, forty days after Easter Sunday, because Jesus spent forty days with his disciples after he rose from the dead and before he ascended into heaven. The Ascension of Christ is extremely important to Christians because it shows the divinity of Christ. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Pentecost, also called Whitsunday, (Pentecost from Greek pentecost, "50th day"), major festival in the Christian church, celebrated on the Sunday that falls on the 50th day of Easter. When we feel cynical about evangelism and fear no one will respond to our message, Luke reminds us that the exalted Christ is the Leader and Savior who grants repentance and forgiveness of sins. Dwelling on Truth, Not Lies - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - June 28. We can have the tendency to cut off what is implicit in the apostles presentation and only speak of the resurrection. Dawson rightly affirms in response, The resurrection requires an ascension to be completed.. . They follow his final instruction to remain in the city (Luke 24:49) by going to Jerusalem with great joy and continually blessing God in the temple (Luke 24:5253). ET on EWTN: Holy Mass and Rosary on Thursday, June 22, 2023 [Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Saints John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas. Why is Ascension Day Important? - Understanding Faith To sum up: Though often overlooked, the ascension completes Jesuss earthly mission and signifies his enthronement as heavenly king. On Good Friday, there was a crucifixion. Jesus Christ currently reigns in heaven. ~ John 3:13. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixtybooks and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. The meaning of the ascension is a little blurry, or maybe it is to our eyes. We need Jesus ongoing ministry of intercession for our salvation. Acts 1:9 tells us He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight, and verse 11 adds, This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven., In Learning Jesus Christ Through the Heidelberg Catechism, Karl Barth says, The conquest of death and the exaltation of life was an event in Jesus Christ the Head. Several important manuscripts of the Gospel of Luke do not include and he was carried up into heaven, so it is possible that Luke originally did not include an ascension of Jesusonly a departure from the disciples, described in Luke 24:51. As in Hebrews, Jesus is not silent in Gods presence. In Romans 8:34, Paul also highlights the importance of Jesus ongoing intercession at Gods right hand as a central means for preserving relationship between God and Gods people. Sufferers, take heart that Jesus is not indifferent to your struggle. The psalmist knew that only God can ascend up to heaven, " You ascended on high, leading. AQA The nature of God and Jesus in Christianity A key belief of almost all Christians is the belief in the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who were all present at the creation of the. Romans, Hebrews, and 1 John all describe the ascended Jesus . , See also John 15:26; 16:7; Acts 1:5, 8. Hebrews says that Jesus took his seat at Gods right hand after he made purification for sins (Heb. His death and resurrection secure our forgiveness, justification, and reconciliation with God (Romans 4:255:1; 2 Corinthians 5:1821). Subscribers receive full access to the archives. Ascension Day is generally observed on a Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter. His ascension marks the beginning of the time in which the Church actively communicates the message of Jesus to bring many to faith who will live with Christ for eternity in the place He has prepared for us. These texts suggest that Jesuss ascension fulfills the important prophecy of Daniel 7:1314:3. Christs ascent can be overlooked for many reasons, but one of the most obvious reasons is that it seems that the Bible speaks little of it. Luke also describes Jesus eating a piece of fish in front of his disciples (Luke 24:3943). A blessed feast to you all my beloved. But Ill still be thanking Him for it in a million years, and I suspect Ill be even more amazed about it then than I am now. We see this in Acts 7, when Stephen becomes the first martyr of the Christian church. The resurrection subsumes the ascension, In the apostles minds, the upward movement of Jesus rising from the dead continued in the ascension. However, A. W. Argyle argues that Lukes chronology is too vague to conclude whether or not the ascension and resurrection took place on the same day. Why the Ascension Was Important for Your Salvation Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? Luke also describes Jesus eating a piece of fish in front of his disciples (Luke 24:3943). And thats exactly what happened on the Day of Pentecost, ten days after Jesus ascension. The ascended and enthroned Christ applies the blessings of salvation. Jesus had told his disciples that it was good for him to go away because only then would he send them another Helper, the Spirit of truth (John 16:7-16). My children consistently ask me why God cannot come and show himself to us so that they can obtain more confidence. Jesus presently rules on the heavenly throne as Gods exalted Son. Take out any one of those elements and, like the Jenga tower that falls to pieces when a key block is removed, Pauls confident claims in Romans 8:3539 collapse.