05/14/2026
Why does Jesus' ascension matter?
"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).
Today marks 40 days after Easter (Jesus' resurrection from the dead). The Bible records Jesus' ascension into heaven and its significance for us. We see the ascending Jesus above our church's altar (pictured). Artist Christopher Powers explains his artwork (fullofeyes.com) in connection with Ephesians 2:6 and the blessings Christians have by being united with a risen and ascended Savior.
He wrote: God raised Jesus from the dead and He raised us with Him. God seated Jesus at His own right hand in the heavenlies and he has seated us there with Him. Yes, Christ died with us and was damned with us, but because He has swallowed that into Himself, we are now raised with Him and seated with Him. He has united human nature—and, therefore, all those humans chosen in Him before the foundation of the world—He has united human nature to Himself so that humanity might be carried with Him through death and hell and into risen, exalted, eternal Life.
Consider, personally, what it means to have been raised with Him and to be even now seated with Him. Easter is my story now…..the Ascension and enthronement of Christ are true of me now. These are realities—historic realities—into which I have been folded such that they are true of me right now in 2026. And, as Paul says in Colossians 3……if we have been raised with Him, and if we are truly even now seated with Him…..think on Him and seek Him, and know, know, know that our lives are hidden in Him. What can tear or destroy, what can cloud or diminish, what can dull or obscure our hope, our joy, our life if ALL that we are and have and hope to be—if our very life—is even now bound up with, inseparably united to, and invincibly hidden in the risen and reigning and returning Lord Jesus Christ?