The Feast of the Ascension

Tomorrow (May 21st) is the Feast of the Ascension, which occurs 40 days after Easter every year.  It is probably the most forgotten major feast day in the church calendar.  My guess is that most of you have never really celebrated the Feast of the Ascension! 
 
It is likely forgotten for two reasons.  One, we don’t realize that it is important.  And two, it always falls on a Thursday, and therefore the church isn’t together to remember it.  But we shouldn’t forget it, and we need to learn to celebrate it!  Imagine forgetting Christmas, or Good Friday, or Easter!  The four movements of the work of Jesus Christ fit together, and all need to be remembered and celebrated.  Incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension—each one is an integral part of what Jesus did.
 
The ascension matters for a variety of reasons.  Jesus told the disciples that it was better for him to go away, a statement that many of us might still struggle to believe.  After all, wouldn’t it be easier if Jesus were still here, with us?  He could fix the state of the church, do miracles to strengthen our faith, and assure us of his love in person.  But the ascension was better, according to Jesus, than him remaining with us.  Here are a few reasons why:
 
First, Jesus ascended so that the Holy Spirit could be given by the Father, through the Son.  As Jesus was anointed with the Spirit to begin his ministry, the Church was anointed with the Spirit for its ministry.  Without the ascension, there is no Pentecost!
 
Second, Jesus went to present his sacrifice of himself to the Father, which the Father accepted as holy and sufficient.  Hebrews presents Jesus as the great high priest, entering the Holy of Holies in the temple of heaven with his own blood to atone for our sins.  Because he ascended, the sacrifice has been accepted, and we are freed from our condemnation, impurity, and shame.
 
Third, Jesus went to intercede for us before the Father.  Because he ascended, we have a high priest pleading on our behalf before the throne of God.  We have an advocate in the throne room!
 
Fourth, because Jesus joined himself to us in the incarnation, he took us into heaven with him in the ascension.  Because we are joined to him (what theologians call incorporation in Christ) and because he has ascended, we have been brought into heaven and seated in the heavenly places.  Because of the ascension, we have access to the throne of God.
 
Fifth, Jesus went to receive his kingdom.  Although we are still waiting for all things to be subject to Christ, our king has returned to his rightful place, which indicates to us that the war has already been won and the kingdom of God is secure.  His work on earth is finished, even though he is still at work through the church by his Spirit.  Because he ascended, we can be at peace in the security of God’s victory.
 
There is more that could be said, but if we began to celebrate just these five truths, our faith would grow.  Tomorrow, find a way to rejoice.  Rejoice because you have been given the Spirit.  Rejoice because the Father accepted the Son’s sacrifice.  Rejoice because we have an intercessor in heaven praying for us.  Rejoice because we have been brought into the courts of heaven with Jesus and can approach the throne of God.  And rejoice because our king has finished his work and is seated at the right hand of the Father, waiting for the right moment to return as judge!  At various times in the church people have celebrated the ascension in various ways.  One that I find both hilarious and endearing is the idea of filling the day with things that go up—fizzy drinks, firecrackers, balloons.  This is silly, but we need little reminders to draw us out of our short-sighted experience and into the grander story of Christ.  Be drawn tomorrow into the ascension!
 
In the Name of our Ascended Lord!
 Steven+

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