The ascension of Christ was that act when on the 40^th day after his resurrection he was taken up into heaven to enter his Father’s presence, to remain there until his second coming. Immediately, we are faced with questions as myriad as our imaginations will take us. Yet, the fact that he did ascend is well attested to by Scripture, such as Luke 24:51 which says, “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven” and Acts 1:9 where Luke wrote, “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”

Though every true Christian wants the Lord to quickly return, his ascension provided several benefits for us. First, he was able to enter into the presence of God with his own blood for our redemption (Hebrews 9:12), second he sat down at the right hand of God to symbolize his work for our redemption was complete (Hebrews 8:1), and third he now serves on our behalf in God’s presence (Hebrews 8:2). In 1697, Samuel Willard, a pastor in Concord, Massachusetts, encouraged his congregation with these words regarding the Ascension of Christ. He wrote:

Let Christ’s Ascension comfort every true believer in the assurance that he will one day go to heaven also. Indeed, may contemplation of this point cause you to consider yourselves to be there already. Remember: Christ, who is there, is your Head, and you are the parts of His body. If the Head is there, the body is sure to follow. He will never be at rest until He has got every one of His body to be there where He is. Think of this: He has gone to take possession for you in your name. He has gone as the Mediator to receive the kingdom of which you are heirs together with Him. His ascension is your guarantee; the kingdom is delivered to Him, for you. Therefore look at heaven as your very own, and let this cause you to bear all afflictions patiently. Encounter all the conflicts on your path courageously and finish your course with undaunted resolution. That man is out of reach of harm in this life, who is sure of possessing heaven in the next. This is the portion of every believer.

(Cited Jan 2, 2006 http://www.puritansermons.com/willard/willard2.htm)

Just before he went to the cross, our Lord told his disciples about preparing places for us in his Father’s house, and that once those places were complete he would return to take us to himself (John 14). It was through his Ascension that he entered God’s presence, to make certain that the preparation for our arrival would be complete.

Dana Arledge, Phil Meade, Kevin Farmer