THE ASCENSION

The Ascension of Jesus – Rembrandt

Today is Ascension Day – forty days after the resurrection Jesus ascended to heaven to assume his place in the Godhead, interceding for us and taking our humanity with him (Acts 1:1-11). We are connected to him in the Body of Christ and therefore as the Head of the Body is in heaven, so are we, though not yet physically, but destined to be. He still is present with us on earth to suffer with us as he reminded Saul of Tarsus: “Why are you persecuting me?” His presence is all in all and fills the creation. He is nearer to us than our breath. In him we live and move and have our being.

This is a Coronation Day when Jesus was crowned head of all. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of his body the church, he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy” (Colossians 1:17,18).

“The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty and is armed with strength.

The world is firmly established it cannot be moved.

Your throne was established long ago, you are from all eternity.”

(Psalm 47:1,2)

This calls for worship, thanksgiving and an awareness of our place in heaven. “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:3,4). Therefore we live for eternity, our prospective destination and the fulfillment of all the promises of the Gospel.