It’s fair to say that Christians who aren’t affiliated to liturgical/lectionary-following churches may not even consider this a ‘valid’ Christian celebration (they may not even know it exists!). Many Christians are more than happy to have a non-seasonal approach and content themselves with Easter and Christmas, others will be mindful of Palm Sunday, a smaller number will commemorate Good Friday, although, a number of churches do mark Pentecost.
But Ascension Day?....eh? What’s that? And more importantly, why is Ascension Day important to Christians?
Ascension Day remembers Jesus’ departure from earth, his ascension into heaven, recorded at length at the beginning of Acts (Acts 1:1-11). Jesus spends 40 days after his resurrection with the disciples, but finally he must leave, which he does in front of the disciples themselves. He is “taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from sight”. After this two angels appear to inform the eleven that Jesus would “come back in the same way you have seen him go”. While teaching prior to his ascension, Jesus has reminded the disciples of three things: firstly, the disciples were to wait for the anointing of the Holy Spirit; secondly, his return was not a matter to speculate on (see my blog on Jesus return); and thirdly, they were to witness, which the anointing was to equip them for.
So on one level, Ascension Day is about remembering these instructions.
However, there is a deeper, more complex theological significance to the feast.
Fulfilment of prophecy. Psalm 110 is quoted liberally throughout the New Testament. In it, King David prophetically sees “The LORD says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand.’” Jesus himself spoke about what would happen to him. John 14:12 he refers to his “going to the Father” (cf. John 14:2-3, 28; 16:5), even after his resurrection he is mindful that his ‘journey’ is not yet complete (John 20:17). This is a point much overlooked by protestant churches; there is a completeness in the cross and resurrection, but part of its application is the saving of humanity and its flesh.
Taking up of authority. God has given Jesus authority to reign now, as He is now in heaven. Remarkably, during his Pentecost sermon, Peter speaks of the Ascension as an ‘exaltation’ of Jesus (Acts 2:33). Peter has no sense that Jesus is merely out of sight, but very much exalted and reigning as he spoke – and this just ten days after seeing him ‘disappear’! Peter returns to this theme in his first letter stating that Jesus is “at God’s right hand” (1 Peter 3:22). Psalm 110 is referred to by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 where he refers to Jesus presently reigning, he does not consider Jesus reign as lying sometime in the future, he is seated “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion… not only in the present age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20f. emphasis mine – showing that Paul sees both a present and future rule; see also Romans 10:6)
Honouring of humanity. Jesus’ exaltation fulfils prophecy, endows Him with authority, but by virtue of the fact Jesus ascends in a temporal body, it redeems our very flesh. Jesus does not ascend only as the Son of God, but also as the Son of Man:
"Jesus glorified our fallen and sinful humanity when He returned to the Father"
Jesus is welcomed into heaven, and in so doing God says ‘mankind can once more be in my presence’. During the season of Easter we read the story of Stephen’s martyrdom. As he prepares to die he says: “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”. Several points here: 1. Jesus is in heaven already; 2. He is seen as the Son of Man (the only time anyone other than Jesus uses the term); and 3. He is standing, which is seen as representing great authority (standing in His Father’s presence!). Stephen’s vision is one we are party to, and as a result we can confidently state the same of Jesus today. He is in heaven, right now as our ambassador. Jesus goes to prepare our way. This is a wondrous idea – that Jesus in his human body is now in heaven. This further paves the way for the glorification of our own bodies; Peter refers to the fact that we even now can participate in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We do not have space here to consider the offices in which Jesus, as our representative, is now our mediator and priest in heaven.
Preparation for Pentecost. After the ascension we have a further ten days before we reach Pentecost. Therefore, in a liturgical sense, there is an element of preparation as we consider the part the Holy Spirit plays in our lives. Ascension Day can start this preparation.
[An important caveat: the lectionary returns to what is known as ‘Ordinary Time’ the very first day after Pentecost. This is because we don’t have a Pentecost-tide, or “season” to focus on the Spirit, for we are always, all-year-round blessed with the Spirit. We are never apart from His presence and activity. Indeed, it is possibly unhelpful to have a Christian calendar precisely for this reason. Just as at Christmas where we must always be careful not to pretend we are waiting for Jesus’ first coming, so with Pentecost we must not think we are to imitate the disciples in the Upper room waiting for his outpouring – the Spirit is with us right now! This should also restrain the temptation to marginalise Ascension themes in Ascensiontide in favour of Pentecost prep…]
There is, nevertheless, the need to consider afresh the degree to which we permit the Spirit to have influence and authority in our life. Do we, for instance, resist the gifts of the Spirit? Are we prone to sins that flatly contradict the fruit of the Spirit? Do I ignore the work of the Spirit as He pricks my conscience about sins in my life? Not only personally, but corporately, are our churches marked by a keen sense that the Spirit guides, leads and directs? Are our services marked by human effort or the Spirit’s enabling? Do we preach about the Spirit, indeed? Fundamentally, do we recognise that on Ascension Day we can celebrate that as a result of Jesus going to heaven he was able to send the Spirit—no Ascension, no Pentecost.
All this is well and good, but what practical response might Ascensiontide prompt? A few questions and ides:
- Do I submit to Jesus authority in my life? Or am constantly battling to be the ‘boss of me’? Do I see Jesus as merely my Lord, or Lord of all?
- When did I last speak to someone about what Jesus has done in my life? Do I chat with my wife and family about my relationship with God?
- Do we have a present trust that Jesus will return? Does this provoke a holiness of life, or am I ‘asleep on the job’?
- What experiences of the Spirit have I had recently? Am I exercising my gifts? In what ways am I being more loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled?
Perhaps we should use the nine days after Ascension, and before Pentecost, to meditate each day on each of the fruits?
Friday 3rd June Love 1 John 4:16
Saturday 4th June Joy Philippians 4:4
Sunday 5th June Peace Philippians 4:7
Monday 6th June Patience Romans 5:4
Tuesday 7th June Kindness Ephesians 4:32
Wednesday 8th June Goodness Ephesians 5:9
Thursday 9th June Faithfulness Revelation 2:10
Friday 10th June Gentleness Philippians 4:5
Saturday 11th June Self-control Titus 1:8
[I am particularly grateful to John Methuen for this idea] - Knowing that Jesus’ ascension fulfils prophecy does this give me more confidence when asked about Jesus?
- Do I have a negative view of humanity? Do I treat my body with disrespect?
Ascension Day is a great time in the year to celebrate Jesus Lordship, he was prophesied to come, to die, to raise to life, and then to ascend on high. In heaven he now mediates on our behalf, seeks to be our Lord and sends the Spirit to aid us. Meanwhile, we cling with hope and fervent trust that just as Jesus left we can know he will, one day, return!
REFERENCES
Orthodox Family Life (1999)'The Meaning and Importance of Ascension' [Online]
Available: http://www.theologic.com/oflweb/feasts/ascen.htm [2 June 2011]
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