Thursday, May 1st was Ascension Day, when we remember the conclusion of Jesus’ bodily ministry on earth with the taking into heaven of his risen body. Because this day by tradition is the fortieth day after Easter (Acts 1:3), it always falls on a Thursday and so tends to be missed by most churchgoers. This weekend we denote as the Sunday after Ascension, and most remembrance for Christians tends to be focused here.

This is an important festival. It marks the closing of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus; Jesus the Son of God completes his localized incarnate presence on earth, limited as it was to time and place, and enables his universal presence by his Holy Spirit. As he said to his disciples, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Or as the preacher said, “A body can’t be in two places at the same time. But a spirit is a person without a body, and by His Spirit, Jesus can be known by all Christians everywhere and throughout time.”

Christians have also understood this event as marking, with the resurrection, Jesus’ victory over all evil and the restoration of his rightful place of kingly authority in the heavenly realm. It marks his vindication and exultation. Robin Nixon writes, “He is present in heaven as a pledge of the completion of his act of redemption and of the final salvation of his people. There he continues his priestly work in interceding for his people. The present sovereignty of Christ over all will be demonstrated clearly on his final return.” As the angels said to the witnesses of the event, “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 1:11)

As we approach the festival of Pentecost, don’t miss Ascensiontide, which makes it possible.

Your Brother in Christ,

Richard