We celebrate Ascension Day

400 we celebrate christi himmelfahrt.jpgAscension Day is not one of the big festivals in the Christian calendar such as Christmas, Good Friday and Easter. We may underestimate the importance of this event. After the trauma of the crucifixion and the triumph of the resurrection, it seems secondary. However, that would be wrong. The resurrected Jesus did not just stay another 40 days and then return to the safe realms of heaven, now that the work on earth was done. The risen Jesus is and will always remain in his fullness as man and God fully engaged as our advocate (1. Timothy 2,5; 1. John 2,1).

Acts of the Apostles 1,9-12 reports on the Ascension of Christ. After he ascended to heaven, there were two men in white clothes with the disciples who said: What are you standing there looking at heaven? He will come again just as you saw him go up to heaven. That makes two things very clear. Jesus is in heaven and he's coming back.

In Ephesians 2,6 Paul writes: "God raised us up with us and installed us in heaven in Christ Jesus. We have often heard "in Christ". This makes our identity with Christ clear. We have died, buried and risen with him in Christ; well but also with him in heaven".

In his book The Message of Ephesians, John Stott comments: “Paul does not write about Christ, but about us. God instituted us with Christ in heaven. The fellowship of God's people with Christ is what matters."

In Colossians 3,1-4 Paul emphasizes this truth:
“You are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. But when Christ, who is your life, shall be revealed, then ye also shall appear with him in glory." "In Christ" means living in two worlds: the physical and the spiritual. We can hardly realize that now, but Paul says it is real. When Christ returns we will experience the fullness of our new identity. God does not want to leave us to ourselves (John 14,18), but in communion with Christ he wants to share everything with us.

God has united us with Christ and so we can be included in the relationship that Christ has with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In Christ, the Son of God for ever, we are beloved children of His pleasure. We celebrate Ascension Day. This is a good time to remember this good news.

by Joseph Tkach