On Thursday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension! Out of the high feasts that celebrate key movements in Jesus’ life and ministry, this one seems the easiest to misplace. Christmas is Christmas, so it’s hard to miss. Easter is Easter, and it’s always on a Sunday. Pentecost is culturally invisible, but at least it’s always on a Sunday too. The Feast of the Ascension is just as culturally invisible, and it’s buried on a Thursday. If we don’t set aside time to celebrate, it’s easy to miss.
That’s a problem, though, because without the Ascension the rest of the story doesn’t work. Here are a few reasons:
1) Without the Ascension, there is no Pentecost. Jesus told his disciples “if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). Without the Holy Spirit we are, at best, Jesus’ biggest fans. That’s not enough. I’m also Steph Curry’s biggest fan, but being his fan doesn’t let me shoot a basketball like him or spend his money. We need the Holy Spirit to unite us to Jesus so that we can be clothed in his righteousness, share in his sonship, and live in his resurrection life.
2) Without the Ascension, there is no Eucharist. During his earthly life, Jesus wasn’t everywhere. He was always somewhere. But seated in God’s throne room, the ascended Jesus can make himself present to all of us. That is especially true in the bread and wine (the body and blood) that we eat together.
3) Without the Ascension, there is no Church. My body sets me apart from you lot. It always belongs to me, and it is always separate from you. Jesus’ ascended body doesn’t work that way. The body of Christ on earth is the Church. In baptism the Holy Spirit joins us to Christ and makes us a new family. Together, we become Jesus’ presence to each other, and to our world. It boggles the mind, but Jesus left so that we could be nearer to him.
4) Without the Ascension, there is no High Priest. Hebrews 4:15 says “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus lived a full human life. He suffered as a human. He endured temptation, humiliation, and death itself. He knows the frailty of human nature, so he constantly lays our needs at his Father’s feet. Remember that when you are facing despair or darkness—Jesus himself is praying for you (Heb. 7:25).
5) Without the Ascension, there is no hope. Don’t let that get you down. The inheritance God has laid up for us is a share of what Jesus has now—life in God’s presence. Jesus’ ascension was a pioneer mission, not a solo expedition. It paved the way for us to follow when Christ returns. As the hymn we’ll sing Sunday says, “mighty Lord in thine ascension, we by faith behold our own.”
We hope to see you Thursday evening as we celebrate what Jesus won for us.
Justin+