This Sunday the church will celebrate the Ascension of Jesus Christ considered to be one of the most meaningful events of the church calendar. For me there is one constant that we find in the Bible, from Genesis to the last word and period in Revelations. God has always been in control. Order, arrangement, purpose are foremost in the narrative. Read the first Chapter of Genesis, each step of the creation has a purpose…preparing the way for the next step. Every event in the Bible is the result of God. Let’s explore why the Accession is so meaningful.
A… it marked the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The son returning to the Father, no longer restricted by earthy bonds.
B… It was a sign that he had done all he had come to do…He was successful in His ministry.
C… Christ had surrendered his heavenly glory during his time of earthly ministry with the exception of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17-1-9. Now his Heavenly Glory will once again be visible a sign of His Father in heaven being well pleased with His son. Jesus was revived in honor and a name above all names. (Philippians 2:9)
D…The Ascension allowed Him to prepare a place for us.
E…It indicated the beginning of His new work as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).
F…We can look for Jesus to return just as He left, bodily, and visibly in the clouds. (Revelation 1:7).
Here are some scriptures that help us to understand the magnitude of this event, as listed in Got Questions
(Matthew 28:9-10), (Luke 24:36-43), (1 Corinthians 15:6). In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God (Matthew 28:9-10), to His disciples (Luke 24:36-43), and to more than 500 others (1 Corinthians 15:6). In the days following His resurrection, Jesus taught His disciples about the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).
Our United Methodist Hymnal contains a Charles Wesley hymn titled “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” (312). The lyrics for this hymn, an adaptation of Charles’s “Hymn for Ascension-Day” published in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739), offer insight into the importance of this day. The Ascension as both the ending of Jesus’s physical presence on Earth and his return to his rightful place in heaven.
“Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise”Hail the day that sees him rise,
- Christ awhile to mortals given
- Re-ascends his native heaven
- There the glorious triumph waits
- Lift your heads, eternal gates,
- Christ hath conquered death and sin
- Take the King of glory in
- See! The heaven its Lord receives
- Yet he loves the earth he leaves
- Though returning to his throne
- Still he calls the world his own
- See! He lifts his hands above
- See! He shows the prints of love
- Hark! his gracious lips bestow
- Blessings on his church below.
Life is Good
jk
From The Pew 