Ascended

    I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth
    And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord
    Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary
   Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell
    The third day he rose again from the dead
    He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty

Apostles Creed

When you think of the gospel, you think of Jesus death and resurrection. To be clear, the ascension is different (though deeply connected) to His resurrection. Rarely, does His ascension feature as a crucial part of the story. And yet it is.

For this reason,
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)

And this reason,
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7

And this reason,
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

Now, how literal these passages are, we cannot say for sure. But we can be certain of is that Christ’s ascension is crucial for the salvation of God’s people, the sending of the Spirit and the preparation for God’s people to the new creation.

How about one more passage.
Where is Christ right now?
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. (Hebrews 10:12-13)

For Today:

• Have you thought much about the ascension of Jesus?
• Do you see why He ascended?
• Give thanks for His ascension today.

 
Pray: Praise the Father that He is God enthroned in heaven. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who is at the right hand of God and intercedes with the Father for His people. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help us to look forward to the day when we stand with Christ in the Kingdom of God forever.