5th week of Eastertide: Ascension Thursday.

Christ who descended,

   also ascended far above all the heavens,

   that he might fill the whole universe. (Ephesians 4:10)

Pentecost is just around the corner—50 days after Easter. But, before we get to Pentecost we will need Ascension Thursday—40 days after Easter. That’s when we celebrate how our resurrected Lord returns to his heavenly throne bringing gifts (Eph 4:7-16) to be poured out ten days later on the Day of Pentecost. That is why we can’t get to Pentecost without Ascension. As Jesus told his disciples: “It is necessary that I go away so that I can send you the Holy Spirit”—our unseen Champion (Jn 16:7).

When Christ ascends. he retains his humanity; so that we speak of the Son of God as “The Human Christ Jesus” (1Tm 2:5). As the hymn goes: “Though returning to His throne, Still He calls mankind His own, Alleluia!” (Charles Wesley, 1739).

Our Ascended Lord’s Heavenly Work:

      -Jesus ascends to send us the Holy Spirit (Ac 2:33): Jesus is exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out the gifts of the Spirit upon us. The Holy Spirit keeps Jesus close to us even when he has left this earth and returned to his native heaven. The church receives the gifts of the Spirit so that our absent Christ remains present and known in the world through his church.

      -Jesus ascends to prepare a place for us (Jn 14:2-4): I go to prepare a place for you. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. Then, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. Jesus was a carpenter. He knows how to build things. Heaven will need plenty of housing for the “great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…” (Rv 7:9).

      -Jesus ascends to root for us (Rm 8:34): Jesus is at the right hand of God, sticking up for us. Good thing. Otherwise, we would be toast.