Let me be the first to say to you, Happy Ascension Day! Today we commemorate when Jesus’ disciples witnessed their risen Lord being “taken up to heaven” (Luke 24:50-51). It’s understandable if you didn’t know about this special date. Generally speaking, it’s a day on the church calendar that often comes quietly and goes with little attention or fanfare.
But the supernatural event that occurred 40 days after Jesus arose from the dead is epic! It wasn’t a minor detail that Luke included in the conclusion of his gospel or in Acts 1:9. Nor did the apostle Peter bring it up to add a bit of dramatic flair to the end of his Pentecost Day sermon (Acts 2:32-35). Jesus’ ascension is recorded because it was meant to tell us something very important about Him.
Christ’s ascension into heaven was a symbolic act of His sovereign rule over all the earth. As the One seated at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19), He’s the world’s true King.
Sadly, the ascension of Jesus is as much misunderstood as it is overlooked. Theologian N.T. Wright points out that for many people the ascension “implies Jesus’ absence, not his universal presence and sovereign rule.”
But that’s not at all the way the apostle Paul saw it. He wrote that Jesus ascended “so that he might fill the entire universe with himself” (Ephesians 4:9-10). Writing on another occasion, Paul pointed out that Jesus ascended so ”that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).
Happy Ascension Day! Jesus reigns through the power of His self-giving love—now and forevermore.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 4:1-17
More:
Read Matthew 16:28 and consider how Jesus presents His ascension in this verse.
Next:
What’s one way you can celebrate the ascension of Jesus Christ today? How does it inspire you to know that Jesus reigns forevermore?
Gary Shultz on May 5, 2016 at 3:26 am
Jeff, that sort of thing is so cool. To back up and look at an event in scripture with more investigative eyes. Like Palm Sunday, the other end of the crucifixion event. It was a lot more than a donkey ride paved with branches. Jesus is so very intentional! Nothing He does or says should ever go without investigation, and His ways are profoundly deep. Okay, I know we all know this stuff; however, the review of these things is enriching. To take another look at Ascension Day will bring us closer to the heart and purpose of our Lord. He went to prepare and to leave us with the Spirit that would bring us near and allow us to be the person Christ would have us be. So you are the first to wish me a Happy Ascension Day, thanks…..I am going to follow Peter’s impulse next week.
vegilkerson on May 5, 2016 at 4:08 pm
That is really cool! But I thought that most Christian believers celebrat Sunday as the first day of the week and this is because that was the day he rose from the grave. Am I terribly off base here?
gagirllive on May 5, 2016 at 6:48 am
Jeff, I’ve never known Protestants to make much of this day. It’s a shame, too, because like Gary said, it bookends Palm Sunday and is Jesus’ final earthly miracle. There’s a lot to be commemorated—His charge to the disciples (then and now), His blessing them, and the promise of His return in like manner. This is an important part of His-story. It’s great that it also coincides with today being the National Day of Prayer. How desperately we need to LOOK UP and CRY OUT! Thanks, Jeff, for bringing this to our attention. Happy Ascension Day everyone!
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 9:49 am
I was brought up in the Church of God which is Protestant, so that’s probably why I didn’t know about this.
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Also when I read this, I was thinking that sometimes when I am in the back yard doing work and listening to my iPhone, there is some music where I do LOOK UP and CRY OUT! It’s just so awesome!! Our God is so awesome!! I just wanna SHOUT TO THE LORD
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 12:04 pm
when I hear that song!! I hit enter by mistake and it went to early.
vegilkerson on May 5, 2016 at 4:12 pm
You are probably not alone in this. It doesn’t seem that enough of the churches address this specific day and how so very awesome and important it actually was.
Tom Felten on May 5, 2016 at 8:28 am
Love the thought that Jesus has “filled the entire universe with himself.” Thanks for lifting up this incredibly encouraging truth, Jeff!
Tim Gustafson on May 5, 2016 at 8:37 am
Jeff, thanks for bringing this oft-neglected day before us. You covered a lot of ground with this post, and it is appreciated. Great reminder!
sdwise on May 5, 2016 at 8:55 am
Thank you Jeff for this reminder of the accomplishment of Jesus’ earthly ministry! Praise God that Jesus was obedient to atone for our sins by going to the cross. I agree that was not the end of the Bible’s account of what happened. Like my late pastor used to say, “When we tell people about Jesus, we do not leave Him on the cross. We must tell them that He got up with all power in His hand, ascended into heaven and that He is coming back for us.” Every other year my husband and I would invite another couple to attend “The Atlanta Passion Play.” In the final act – The Ascension -Handel’s “Messiah” was sung, I was always moved to tears. Tears of joy for how much God loves us and His promise to return for us. “King of Kings and LORD of Lords. He shall reign for ever and ever!”
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 9:42 am
Happy Ascension Day! I didn’t know there was a day to celebrate this. I know that it was 40 days after Jesus arose from the dead, but every year it’s a different date on the calendar. I know Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 21st. I don’t know when they started doing it that way, but there is a lot I don’t understand, and a lot I don’t really know. I do know that Jesus died for me as a ransom for my sins. He took the blunt of everyone’s sins so we could be set free. Then He arose from the grave and walked away and 40 days later he ascended to Heaven and He went to prepare a place for us so that where He is, there we may be also. I know that He loves me. I know that we show our love for Him by obeying Him. I know that what He wants most from us is an intimate relationship with Him. God is just so amazing!!
Jeff Olson on May 5, 2016 at 11:34 am
Sandy, I don’t know everything either…none of us do…what I am certain of is that Jesus is alive and reigning over heaven and earth, and that He call us, His body, to reflect His rule into the world until He returns, just as God intended from the beginning of creation.
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 12:06 pm
well, thank you so much for your devotion today and knowledge…..I love learning about something I didn’t know before, especially something as important as this…
envirotact on May 5, 2016 at 11:00 am
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:10-11) Even so, come Lord! Amen!
Jeff Olson on May 5, 2016 at 11:34 am
Amen Indeed!
jim spillane on May 5, 2016 at 11:33 am
And a Happy Ascension Day Jeff and to all our forum visitors. So glad that we all remember the importance of this day. As Gary, gagirllive, and Sandy brought front and center, the high value of this day is that without His leaving this earth the Holy Spirit could not come to us, a mansion in heaven could not be prepared for us, His Second Coming could not occur, and His final commandment (the Great Commission) could not be given. There is so much to be thankful for in this one day that it’s a shame it is often forgotten, along with Palm Sunday that was mentioned by gagirllive. These events were recorded thru the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so let us be ever mindful of them.
jim spillane on May 5, 2016 at 11:40 am
If I might be permitted a final thought, actually more of a question, are your respective churches celebrating this important day with a service of any kind? Mine, unfortunately, is not. And I heard another pastor say this morning, that because attendance is so low on Ascension Thursday, they have discontinued their service. How disappointing. Do you think that this disturbs our Heavenly Father also?
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 11:54 am
Yes, of course it does. He probably feels like they think it’s not important enuf…. just another day at the office? so to speak
Jeff Olson on May 5, 2016 at 12:27 pm
Churches that follow the Christian Liturgical calendar often have an Ascension Day Service…I wish more local church bodies did something to acknowledge this day…it’s implications are huge!
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 12:45 pm
I do too! In fact I am going to talk to our Pastor about this!! Thanks 🙂
hsnpoor on May 5, 2016 at 11:52 am
And a “Happy Ascension Day” to Jeff and every one else. Thank you for this devotion! I’ve never given one thought as to why we do not celebrate a day so incredibly special to the Christian community because, as stated by others, without Christ’s ascension, the Holy Spirit would not have descended to earth, which answers those theologians who see this event as the absence of Jesus’ presence on earth. I have choir rehearsal tonight. I can’t wait to share this new knowledge with them!
sandy229 on May 5, 2016 at 11:56 am
Yes, I can’t wait to share this knowledge with my sister’s and their Mother’s at the Mother, Daughter tea on Saturday.