“Our blessed Lord and Master has gone from us. From the mount of Olives, the place where in dread conflict his garments were rolled in blood, he has mounted in triumph to his throne. After having shown himself for forty days amongst his beloved disciples, giving them abundant evidence that he had really risen from the dead, and enriching them by his divine counsels, he was taken up. Slowly rising before them all, he gave them his blessing as he disappeared.” - Charles Spurgeon
Ascension Day remembers the event that took place 40 days after the resurrection. As told in Acts chapter 1, Jesus went with His disciples out to the Mount of Olives, where He told them they must not leave Jerusalem but wait for the Holy Spirit come upon them.
"And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." (Acts 1:9)
Ascension Day is not observed in most churches outside of Catholicism unless in a study or sermon on Acts chapter one but without the ascension, where would we be?
This is not intended to be an exhaustive study by any means, but let's take a look at 4 blessings for the believer that have resulted from Christ's ascension.
1. Spiritual Gifts.
"When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men." (Ephesians 4:7)
There are several interpretations given to the first part of that verse but for the purpose of this study, we will concentrate on the second part which tells us that when Jesus ascended into heaven, He "gave gifts unto men."
What are these "gifts"?
Many of them are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10...
- word of wisdom
- word of knowledge
- faith
- gifts of healing
- working of miracles
- prophecy
- discerning of spirits
- divers kinds of tongues
- interpretation of tongues
If Jesus had not ascended into heaven after His resurrection, these gifts would not have been distributed to His body, the church. Without these gifts, there would be little means to build up the church to fulfill the mandate to preach the gospel to the ends of the world and lift up the Name of Jesus over the nations.
2. A Home in Heaven
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3)
Jesus made that promise before He gave Himself for us. It was the ascension that made it possible for Him to fulfill that promise. He went up to heaven to prepare a dwelling place for His bride, the church.
3. A Seat in Heavenly Places
Take note of the progression in this passage. First, we were dead in sins, then we were made alive with Christ. Then we were raised up together with Him to a seat in heavenly places.But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.(Ephesians 2:4-7)
Some commentators say that the raising up in this verse refers to being made alive in Christ. I don't think so because as we noted above, there is a definite progression here. So after being made alive, what comes next? For Jesus, the next step was ascension. Our position in Christ, right now, is that we've ascended into heaven and are seated with Him in the heavenly realms.
Is that concept of identification with Christ in His acts of redemption so foreign? Paul said,
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4)
Again, a progression. Dead, buried, risen. In Ephesians 2: dead, made alive, ascended.
4. Authority
Sadly, many Christians struggle with the concept of the authority we have based on our position in Christ. It is something I am only beginning to understand. But come along with me if you will, please.
Paul's prayer for his fellow believers in Ephesus was,
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power..." (Ephesians 1:17-19)[Lord, give us such a revelation, I pray.]
Paul goes on to say of the greatness of the Father's power on our behalf was brought to effect in Christ, "when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1:20)
There's the progression again. The Father raised Christ from the dead and brought Him up to heaven...
"Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Ephesians 1:21-23)Take a look again at the words in blue above, then reflect again on this:
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7)
This is not about following some liturgy or tradition in recognition of the Ascension. Whether our churches officially recognize Ascension Day or not, we can rejoice in the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ died, was buried, rose again and ascended for our sakes!
Think on that!
Questions
1. If all things are under Jesus' feet and we're sitting next to Him, what is under our feet?
2. What made this position of authority possible for us as believers?
3. What made it possible for Jesus to prepare a home for us in heaven?
4. When did Jesus give "gifts unto men"?
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