Ascension day can often be one of those days in the Christian calendar that we easily forget and fail to take note of because it doesn’t get as much attention as other Christian holidays like Easter and Christmas. We experience the height of Easter as we are reminded of the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and how that brings hope to all of mankind. This is because we get an opportunity to be reunited with God and enter into a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Yes, this is great and should not be downplayed, but we often fall into the trap of thinking that this is where the story ends.

We get back into the routine of our everyday life hoping that this fire burning in us doesn’t die down. Unfortunately, the distractions and demands of this world get to many of us and we slowly lose sight of the glory of Christ and all that He accomplished. This is the human condition. We are prone to wander, prone to forget and prone to create idols in our hearts and serve them instead. Left to our own devices, it is clear that we are not prone to choose God but rather give in to sin. That is why we need to look to God daily in our lives and depend upon the power of the Holy Spirit in us as Christians. 

So why then is Ascension day so significant? After Jesus’ resurrection he was on earth for 40 days and He used this time to speak about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). We are given two similar accounts of Jesus’ ascension:

 
“Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven” – Luke 24:50-51

 “And when he 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

Three ways Jesus’ Ascension Impacts us as Believers Today.

Jesus’ ascension was a one-time event that had a lifetime impact for all Christians. Not only did it point to a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies (Psalm 110:1), but it also brought great promises and joy for us to experience both now and in the future. 

Jesus Ascended to a Place 

Firstly, these narratives make it clear that Jesus did not just disappear into thin air, but He went to a place. He gradually ascended into heaven as the disciples were watching and then a cloud took him from their sight. Christ’s ascension served a specific purpose in that his resurrection body did have special limitations – it could only be at one place at a time. However, Jesus went away in order that he could send the Holy Spirit  who can be everywhere at all times, abiding in us and serving as our Helper (Acts 2:33, John 14:16-17, 16:7). 

This opens the door for Christians to experience an intimacy with God like no other. We get the assurance of God being with us always, and Him strengthening us to desire and worship Him more in all that we do. The Holy Spirit enables us to bring effective witness in ministry (Acts 1:8), victory over sin (Acts 2:42-46, Gal 2:20), victory over Satan (Acts 16:16-18) and receive gifts for ministry (Acts 2:16-18, 1 Pet 4:10). 

Jesus is Still Active – Christians Are Not Left Alone

Secondly, we can see that Jesus is still active today. Before Jesus died He prayed:

 “And now Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” – John 17:5 

In Peter’s sermon at Pentecost he said that Jesus was “exalted at the right hand of God” (Acts 2:33) and Paul declared “God has highly exalted him” (Phil 2:9). The implication here is that when Jesus ascended into heaven he received glory, honour and authority that had never been His before as one who was both God and man. 

Jesus’ ascension is the fulfilment of the prophecy that the Messiah would sit at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1) and when Jesus ascended into heaven he received a fulfilment of this promise: 

“When he made purification for sins he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” – Hebrews 1:3 

Jesus sitting down at the right hand of God is a visible demonstration that His work of redemption was complete and received authority over the universe (Eph 1:20-21). 

Christ sitting at the right hand of God in heaven does not mean He is inactive or without control. Just as a human king sits on his royal throne at his accession to kingship and engages in many activities as he exercises his rule from the throne, so Christ is exercising His rule and authority over the universe as He is  seated at the right hand of God. Hebrews 7:25 points to this activity in that Jesus intercedes on our behalf before the Father by bringing our requests before Him. 

Ascension brings joy to the hearts of believers 

Thirdly, we should take note that as we celebrate Ascension Day my desire is that it would bring joy and hope to our hearts because Christ’s ascension has significant implications for us today. Since we are united with Christ in every aspect of His work of redemption, we can have assurance as Christians that there is still more to come which is far better than what we

experience in this world corrupted by sin and evil. We have a new heaven and new earth to look forward to where there will be no more pain and no tears (Rev 21:4).

These are amazing promises of our future sitting alongside Christ at the right hand of God. We may not be able to fully comprehend them now but we can long for that day with great joy when we can enjoy these things. My prayer for us is that we would not doubt or forget these promises but be strengthened when we face trials. Ephesians 4v7-16 tells us that we will be compelled to live as witnesses and share the Gospel with those around us as well as experience a deep joy and desire to want God more as we grow in our relationship with Him (Eph 4:7-16). We can also have confidence in the fact that there is a time coming where we will not experience suffering (Rom 8:18).

May you have a blessed Ascension Day and may these truths bring you great joy! 

Themba Rasekutuma

Themba Raseketuma is on staff with Red Door and serves as campus team leader for Red
Door’s university ministry at the University of Pretoria. He is married to Kwanele and lives in
Pretoria and is a passionate Liverpool FC fan.