In the liturgical calendar, yesterday (Thursday, May 18) was the Feast of the Ascension. As is obvious from its title, this day celebrates the return of Jesus to heaven after His resurrection.
Now, we could argue that the ascension isn’t worth celebrating because it means that Christ is no longer with us in the flesh. Wouldn’t we prefer to have Jesus walking right beside us, helping us out of difficult situations and answering our questions? Furthermore, since He’s in resurrection form, death can’t touch Him. Christ can go anywhere and do anything without suffering any consequences. Given the choice between His presence or His absence, I know which one I choose!
This might have been on the mind of Mary Magdalene when she finally recognized the risen Savior.
Right after His resurrection, “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.”’ 18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that He had said these things to her.” – John 20:17-18
“He’s back, and better than ever,” she thought to herself. “I lost You once, I’m not going to lose You again!”
That’s how I’d have responded, but Christ’s words redirected her reasoning. He had to ascend to the Father. He didn’t explain why, but He did give Mary an assignment. Tell the other disciples I’m going to ascend.
And without hesitation, she obeyed!
How would the remaining ten disciples react to this news? They saw Jesus crucified and interred; their hope for the future died with Him.
Now there’s a report that Jesus isn’t dead. Even though they saw Him die, He’s now alive. But Mary’s almost the only witness, and she’s telling us that Jesus is going to ascend to God. So even if what she’s saying is true, what difference would it make? Jesus is going up and the disciples are still down here!
But it makes perfect sense.
Starting with His instruction to Mary, Jesus connected His ascension with the task of witnessing. In John 13-16, the Lord had spent much time preparing His disciples to continue His work. He’d depart, but He’d provide the Holy Spirit. Christ testified about God, and so would the Spirit and the disciples.
John’s gospel isn’t the only one that ties together the status of the ascended Christ and the responsibility of proclaiming the good news.
According to Matthew, Jesus told the apostles, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18b). He then followed up this announcement with a charge: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
So there’s a connection between Christ’s ascension and our evangelism.
Luke backs this up. At the end of his gospel (24:46-53), he relates the following account:
He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. 52Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Jesus was alive and the disciples learned how this was God’s plan from the start. It’s the most amazing event in history and everybody should know about it, so why wait?
Because the witnesses needed power.
Without the Holy Spirit, their testimony would have been little more than one religious tale among a thousand. Entertaining, sure; inspirational, okay. But life-changing? Credible? Not so fast!
The difference the Spirit makes!
God sent the Spirit to the patient disciples only after Christ had ascended. When He took His place on the divine throne, the authorization and empowerment of His representatives could occur. And the book of Acts is an excellent summary of how the Spirit-filled church fared.
So we celebrate Christ’s ascension not because we don’t want Him here with us. Quite the opposite; we’d love to see Him face to face! But were He to return today, how many people wouldn’t be ready? He bides His time, giving as many as possible the opportunity to respond to our testimony that Jesus is Lord.
We look forward to the return of Jesus to this world. But until then, may we prove faithful to our mission and find joy in bringing His good news to all who need to hear it.
“Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” – 1 Timothy 3:16
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