In the opening sentences of the book of Acts, we read, “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) Some of these appearances of Jesus to his disciples are recorded in the Gospels. Luke records how Jesus spent time explaining how he had fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures – and how those scriptures even anticipated the resurrection.
Then, on the fortieth day, after giving instructions to his disciples to make disciples of all nations and promising to send his Holy Spirit to be with them, Jesus left them and returned to heaven. We read, “he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9)
Christians celebrate this ascension as the day on which Jesus, in his full humanity, took his place at the right hand of God the Father to rule and reign over all things. It signals that his work of redemption is complete – the writer to the Hebrews says, “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3b) He sat down – job done.
But now he intercedes for his people as their representative – he is, as Paul writes to Timothy, our mediator: “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
One day, he will return to establish his eternal kingdom. As we celebrate Ascension Day, we reflect on Jesus as lord and king and seek to align our lives with the values of his coming kingdom.
Our service this year is a united service at Wareside Church at 8pm.
Image by Achim Scholty from Pixabay