On May 14, many Christians around the world observed Ascension Day.
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus led His disciples out to the vicinity of Bethany. He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And while He was blessing them, He was taken up into heaven.
This event often gets overlooked. Christmas gets decorations. The Holy Week has a week-long commemoration. But the Ascension? It comes and goes without most of us noticing. Yet without the Ascension, the work of Christ is not complete.
He came. He died. He rose. And then He returned to heaven, where He reigns as King over all creation.
Luke 24:50–53 records, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.”
First, understand that the Ascension means Jesus is now reigning as King.
Peter declared on the day of Pentecost that Jesus had been exalted to the right hand of God (Acts 2:33). The Ascension was not a departure. It was an enthronement.
Jesus did not leave His disciples. He took His place as the ruler of all things. He is not absent. He is reigning. He is not silent. He is interceding. Hebrews 7:25 says, “He always lives to intercede for them.”
This changes everything. The problems you face are being seen by the King.
Whatever chaos surrounds you, remember that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. Nothing happens outside His authority. The Ascension is not Jesus leaving. It is Jesus taking His throne.
Second, understand that the Ascension means we have a mission to complete.
Just before He ascended, Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). He did not take them to heaven with Him. He left them on earth with a job to do.
The angels told the disciples in Acts 1:11, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” In other words, do not stand there staring at the sky. Get to work.
Because Jesus reigns, we go. Because He is coming back, we serve. The Ascension gives us both confidence and urgency.
The disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy, not with sorrow. They understood that Jesus was not gone. He is reigning. And they had the privilege of making Him known to the world.
The Ascension of Jesus is not a footnote in the Gospel story. It is the crowning moment.
Jesus lived. Jesus died. Jesus rose. And Jesus ascended, where He reigns as King forever.
Because He lives, we have hope. Because He reigns, we have courage. Because He is coming back, we have a mission.
This same Jesus, who was taken up into heaven, will one day return. Until then, worship Him. Serve Him. And live with great joy. | NWI
