Christ Ascended
Before We Gather by Zach Hicks
| Scripture
Read Acts 1:6-11
| Devotion
The Christian worship tradition celebrates this event in Acts as “the ascension.” We modern Christians often give Christ’s ascension short shrift. We’re big on his incarnation at Christmas. We also make a big deal about his death and resurrection. But what about Jesus’ ascension? Is there important meaning bound up in that event, or was it just filler text or travel music so that Jesus could get from point A to point B?
Early Christians placed huge importance on the ascension for our everyday lives. When the early church began to annually cele- brate significant events in the life of Christ, the ascension was one of the earliest days marked out for celebration. Our brothers and sisters who paved the way for us have something to say to us here and now.
First, the ascension reminds us that our worship can never be acceptable without a forerunner, without someone to bridge the gap between heaven and earth. Remember that the first Christians were Jews, and the idea of ascension was baked into their reli- gious practice. In the Old Testament, ritual animal sacrifice was typically done in a series. Animals were killed as substitutes in a succession. After the sin offering, which symbolized purifica- tion, came what was called the burnt offering, which symbolized access. Another name for this second sacrifice was the “ascension offering,” because all who offered it would watch its smoke rise from earth to heaven as a sweet aroma to the nostrils of the Father.
The ascension offering taught believers that we can’t approach God on our own. We need a forerunner who goes before us with the clean hands and pure heart that we don’t have. The book of Hebrews tells us that because Jesus did this, we have hope: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Heb. 6:19-20). Because of the ascension, worshipers have hope!
Second, the ascension was necessary for us to receive the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, Jesus taught clearly, “If I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you” (John 16:7). Though his disciples couldn’t fathom it, Jesus knew that there was some- thing better in store for them-and us than God-in-the-flesh walking beside us. Jesus knew that nothing is better than God the Spirit inside us. Pentecost couldn’t happen without the ascension. Likewise, worship full of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst requires Christ’s rising to the right hand of the Father. You can’t have one without the other.
Third, the ascension means that you and I have the strongest advocacy imaginable. You and I, even while straining to believe in Jesus, struggle with sin daily, hourly. We cave in; we succumb. We put ourselves too often before others, and we often leave good things undone which we should have done. Though Jesus’ sacrifice was a once-and-for-all, “it is finished” sacrifice (Heb. 10:11-14; John 19:30), you and I need the psychological and spiritual com- fort of knowing that the once-and-for-all work is always before the heart and mind of God the Father. We need ongoing advocacy for Christ’s finished work.
Imagine you committed a serious crime and were up for trial. It’s one thing to hire a seasoned, talented, successful defense attorney. It’s quite another when that successful attorney is your own flesh-and-blood brother. Think about the intimate love and advocacy, compassion, and empathy beating out of the chest of Jesus Christ our advocate, who, because of his intercession, guarantees our place before the Father and our adoption as daughters and sons into the Trinitarian family of glorious joy!
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:25). Yes, Jesus’ ascension means everything for worship.
| Prayer
Aim your prayers in this direction:
- Offer prayers of gratitude and thanksgiving that Jesus has ascended and gone before us to plead the merit of his blood and to ongoingly offer prayers on our behalf.
- Pray specifically for people who are feeling vulnerable, guilty, shameful, or unworthy. Pray that the Holy Spirit would woo them with the love of their ascended advocate, Jesus Christ, and would offer the comfort of the gospel to them in the worship service.
- Pray that the overwhelming feeling and impression of today’s worship service would be one of comfort and support, and that believers would mirror that gentleness and grace in the way they interact.