Why the Ascension Matters for You

The ascension of Christ is often overlooked as a significant event in the life of Jesus. You might view this as just another in the long list of miracles that Jesus performed, but it is so much more.

What does the ascension have to do with you and me and our everyday lives as Christians, if anything?

The answer is. . . EVERYTHING!  

After Jesus rose from the dead He spent time with His disciples over a period of 40 days at different times and places in His resurrected body. Then He rose in another way…into heaven. (Acts 1). His ascension is his Inauguration, His Coronation, His Ordination as our High Priest. When He ascended, He entered into heaven to the real tabernacle – not a copy of the real one, the real one (Hebrews 9:11).

When Jesus ascended, it was the start of what He continues to do at this very moment! He is at the right hand of God (I Peter 3:22) and He is interceding for us (Romans 8:34).

The Ascension in Art
The ascension has been depicted throughout history in art with various perspectives emphasizing a different aspect of the event…Jesus’ humanity, His divinity, some have him slightly off the ground, others high above.

One way Jesus is portrayed in art and icons is surrounded by this shape. It’s called a Mandorla – meaning ‘almond’ in Italian. When two circles overlap, it creates this shape.  This symbol represents the intersection of heaven and earth. Jesus is the union of humanity and divinity. He is fully human and fully God.

The Original Design
In God’s original design for the world, God and humanity would live in perfect harmony. That was the vision of Eden. As creatures in His image, we are created for perfect union with Him.

The Problem
But sin broke that perfect union and we became separated from our loving Creator. So now we have a broken relationship. If there is a broken relationship it takes both parties to participate in the reconciliation. But there was a problem. God in His holiness could not fellowship with us in our sin and we humans in our sinfulness and brokenness could not ever be good enough to be acceptable to God.  

The Solution
So, the only answer was that God had to become a human! In Jesus all of humanity is restored to union with God. Like the mandorla created by overlapping circles, Jesus became that perfect bond, perpetually human, eternally God.

Jesus ascended bodily into heaven. He didn’t suddenly “unincarnate.” The angels at the ascension said “This same 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 1:11).

He will forever be the incarnate Lord – both human friend and divine savior.

Why the Ascension Matters for you….

Sometimes we get the idea that being a Christian is having “Jesus in my heart.” This is only a partial truth and robs us of the full power of the Christian life. A better, more Biblical definition of being a Christian is that WE ARE IN CHRIST.… IN CHRIST.  We have to be in Him for Him to be in us! If you immerse a sponge in a tub of water, the sponge is in the water and the water is in the sponge. This is a metaphor of life in Christ.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 3:1-4

Your true life is hidden in Jesus. So, if Jesus is ascended to the Father, you are ascended with Him! I pray that your heart will thrill at this truth and this hope will shape all that you do and all that you are. Our hope is eternal!