The importance of the ascension of Christ

The bodily ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven was a reality which can be found in the holy writ. The ascension of Christ is held in high esteem by every Christian, because it is pivotal in our confession of faith. It is written in the apostles creed; On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven". Hitherto, the church of Christ for centuries have held a strong belief not only in the death and resurrection of Christ, but also in his ascension into the heavens. Are there biblical records to countenance the ascension of Jesus Christ? Certainly, in the book of Luke, the evangelist wrote by the Spirit: And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24: 50-53). The high Priest as part of his priestly duty was to confer blessing upon the children of Israel, see, (Numbers 6; 23- 27). So Christ being our great high priest was exercising his sacerdotal duty by invoking blessing upon blessing on his disciples, till he was obscured before them and was carried into heaven.

 Another passage that speaks about the ascension of our Lord into heaven can be found in the book of Acts: And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1: 9-11). It is clear that the passage speaks about the ascension of Christ into heaven. The ascension of Christ into heaven is of immense significance, therefore let us thoroughly look at some of the importance of the ascension our blessed Lord into heaven.

One of the importance of the ascension of Christ is that, it signaled the completion of the work of our redemption. The primary reason for the incarnation of the Son of God was to perfect the work of our salvation. Jesus took on flesh, in order that through his death he might ransom us from sin and it's eternal consequences. His death and resurrection signifies the acceptance of his salvific work on our behalf by God the father. Christ will not have ascended into the heavens, if he had not completed to the uttermost the reason for his taking on flesh. His ascension into heaven is a clear indication that he finished the work his father sent him to undertake (Isaiah 53).

Another significance of the ascension of Christ is that, it serves as a sign of his exaltation by his father. The Man Jesus Christ was highly exalted to seat at the right hand of the father, when he ascended into heaven. The bible says: fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12: 2). He received additional honor and glory for his obedience, even as he sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. So the ascension of our blessed Lord, signifies his exaltation by his father as a reward for his obedience.           

The ascension of Christ into heaven is very important because, it marks the continuation of his sacerdotal office. The bible presents Christ as our great high Priest who has entered into the heavens, and continues his priestly duty of interceding for us: who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us (Romans 8: 34). The intercessory work of Christ in our stead secures our salvation. The author of the book of Hebrews wrote: Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16). We have confident assurance, because we know our great high priest is seated on the throne, and not only does he intercede for us, but we can approach the throne of grace at anytime to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

The ascension is also very important because, it proves the resurrection of Christ from the dead. Christ ascended into heaven not as a phantom, but he ascended bodily and visibly, and the account from the book of Acts proves that: And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1; 9-11). He is the first to ascend into heaven with a glorified body and he is there as our forerunner, which is an indication that on the day of rapture, we also will be resurrected and we shall receive a glorified body like his and be with him in eternal glory forever, see (1Thessalonians 4; 15-18). Without the bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead, his ascension into heaven would have been a mirage.

The ascension of Christ is also important because, it afforded him the opportunity to fulfill his promise by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower his disciples for ministerial function. This were his own words to his disciples: And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high (Luke 24: 49), The promise of the father is none other than the holy Spirit himself, see (John 14; 26, Acts 1; 8). Ten days after his ascension into heaven, he sent forth the Spirit who did not only permanently live within his disciples, but also empowered them for the work of the ministry, see (Acts 2). It is worthy to know that in his ascension, he sent not only the Spirit, but also gave spiritual gifts to the church as well, for the purpose of perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, see (Ephesians 4: 8-13).

Another significance of the ascension of Christ is that, it gives us hope of his second coming. The evangelist wrote: And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven" (Acts 1: 9-11). From the passage, the two men in white apparel that appeared and stood beside the disciples were angels and; ''They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven". This tells us that the ascension of Christ sets forth the pattern for his second coming. He ascended bodily and visibly, it is in like manner that he will return. The words of the angels gives us hope and assuages the heart of all the saints respecting the imminent return of our blessed Lord.

Another significance of the ascension of Christ is that it validates the truth of the scriptures. The psalmist by the Spirit saw into the future and he spake: The Lord says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet (Psalms 110:1). The ascension of Christ and his session at the right hand of the father is closely tied in scripture. David by the Spirit had already prophesied that the Messiah will ascend and be made to sit on the right hand of the father. The ascension of Christ and his session at the right hand of the father confirmed and validated the words of the psalmist.

The last reason why the ascension of Christ is important is that, it defines the mission of the church.  Jesus ascension into heaven defines and establishes the responsibility of the church in preaching the gospel, and making disciples of all nations, see (Matthew 28: 18-20). He has given us his divine Spirit to empower us to fulfill the great commission. So the ascension of Christ into heaven is important for various reasons, for it signaled the completion of the work of our salvation, it is a sign of his exaltation by his father, it marks the continuation of his sacerdotal duty, it proves his own resurrection from the dead, it afforded him the opportunity to fulfill his promise to his disciples by sending forth the holy Spirit, and also gives us hope of his second coming, and it also validates the truth of the scriptures and finally defines the mission of the church. God bless you

                    A thought to ponder 

Hitherto, the church of Christ for centuries, have held a strong belief not only in the death and resurrection of Christ, but also in his ascension into the heavens

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