For centuries, churches observing the Christian calendar commemorate Ascension Day, an event that falls forty days after Easter. In , Ascension Day is celebrated on Thursday, May The meaning of Ascension Day is obvious from its name. But what is its significance? It is also absolutely important for the daily life of every believer. Instead, the ascension is of vital importance for the whole of the Christian faith.
So did his death. So did his resurrection. No longer was Christ personally present. Now, he was ascending back to his father. He had predicted that this time would come. Now, it was here. First, the ascension of Jesus Christ demonstrates the earthly work necessary for our salvation is finished.
The ascension of Christ has drawn that work to a close. All that was needed for Christ to rescue, ransom, and redeem mankind has been accomplished. He came down to earth from heaven in great humility; he returns to heaven in triumph and glory, having accomplished all that was necessary for our salvation.
Salvation is complete with the finished work of the ascended Christ. Christ has completed it all. This is good news for those suffering under a performance-based version of Christianity. A second reason the ascension of Christ is important is found in His present work. According to the Scriptures, Christ is our advocate, our mediator, and our high priest. Christ, as our advocate, mediator, and high priest pleads our case before God.
Instead, the case Christ presents is based on His perfect life and His shed blood. Christ, our advocate, has never lost a case. I know them well and thousands more; Jehovah findeth none. Third, the ascension of Jesus Christ means the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is within us. On two occasions, Jesus prepared His followers for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
He builds on this a little later in John If I go, I will send him to you. This, however, is not so, any more than it is true that Abraham, Moses, and Elijah have ceased to be men. Jesus ascended in bodily form to heaven, being Himself as to actual victory First-born from the dead. The stoop of God to human form was not for a period merely. That humiliation was a process in the pathway, by which God would lift into eternal union with Himself all such as should be redeemed by the victory won through suffering.
Forevermore in the Person of the Man of Nazareth, God is one with men. Difficulties arising concerning these clear declarations as to the ascension of the Man of Nazareth must not be allowed to create disbelief in them. Campbell Morgan. Jesus himself had told his disciples that it was good for him to go away, because only then would he send them another Helper, the Spirit of truth John The Spirit descended on the church with power, inaugurating a new age in the history of salvation.
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. Having accomplished redemption through his suffering on the cross, the risen and exalted Christ now applies the salvation he has won, by granting the gifts of repentance and forgiveness of sins.
As Peter says in Acts :. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. The ascended and enthroned Christ cares for his suffering people as they bear witness to him.
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