05/14/2026
Its Ascension day, the day we remember when Jesus ascended into heaven! This holiday is odd for many Protestants because it lands 40 days after Easter, which is always a Thursday. And as such this important day in our faith tends to get pushed to the side and forgotten.
The Ascension of Jesus is often only remarked upon when we recite the Apostle’s Creed together, “He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty…”
But the fact it made it into the most basic fundamental creed of the Christian faith should indicate the Ascension’s importance.
And it is important because it marks when Jesus ascended to the throne as the King of heaven and our great High Priest praying and making intercessions for us. It marks the promise that of the Holy Spirit God sent to the Church.
But goes even deeper than that.
In many ways it the reverse of the incarnation. Instead of God coming down to dwell among us now Jesus, fully human and fully God, was going up to dwell with God. Jesus, in his glorified flesh, brought humanity into heaven.
Everyone united in Jesus’ body is guaranteed everlasting life with the Creator and Ruler of the Universe, because that is what Jesus is enjoying right now as you read this.
In this way the Ascension marks the completion of Jesus’ ministry on earth.
Like baseball, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection knocked the ball out of the park for a homerun. But the point doesn’t count until the player runs the bases and returns to home plate.
The Ascension is when Jesus made it back home. Jesus returned to heaven still fully human and fully God. Jesus brought humanity, the same human flesh he was born into, into heaven. That’s just as wild as God putting on human flesh to begin with.
Jesus is victorious, fully exalted, and reigns supreme with God the Father. Now through Christ, God and humanity are reconciled and are able to dwell together forever. That is the good news!
Because Christ lives, so shall we. Because Jesus dwells with God, so shall we.
That is what we remember with joy and awe on Ascension Day.
