Why the Ascension of Jesus Matters

This time of year, we tend to place substantial focus on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus—and rightly so. Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15 that without the resurrection, our faith is null and void. Easter is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar, because without Easter, no other Christian holiday matters—not Christmas or Good Friday, nor anything in between. 

Does the Ascension Matter?

But with all the emphasis on Easter, the Ascension of Jesus can get entirely lost. You might even be scratching your head thinking, “Hang on, let me get a dictionary so I can look up what ascension means” or “Wait, Ascension Day is a thing?” 

Yes, yes it is. It’s 39 days after Easter, which means this year Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 18. 

Maybe it’s just me, but despite growing up in the church, I can’t remember ever hearing about Ascension Day, celebrating Ascension Day, or being taught why it matters that Jesus ascended into heaven. It was long into my adult and ministry years before I grasped how much mattered. A few years ago, while I was working on a discipleship resource my husband and I were writing, this question suddenly came to the forefront, and I realized I didn’t know the answer. 

I did some digging to find the answer, and, like with any area of growth in our faith, this new perspective only deepened my understanding and gratitude for what Jesus has done. So, with Easter behind us, I want to share five reasons why the ascension matters. I invite you (and your students) to spend the next 38 days reflecting on this reality of the gospel so that May 18th can be one more day on the calendar that you pause and celebrate the goodness of Jesus with depth and joy.

Why the Ascension Matters

The ascension signifies the completion of Christ’s work.

When Jesus ascended to heaven, He reclaimed His place of total authority at the right hand of God. He did so by sitting down. We sit when the work is done. I don’t think it’s coincidental that Scripture tells us Jesus sat at the right hand of God instead of standing.

This act of ascending and sitting signified that His work on earth was complete and His triumph over sin and death was final. Hebrews 10:12-13 says,

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.

Jesus is living, triumphant, and exalted. He didn’t return to heaven with a job half done but with a job complete. And he did not return to heaven second class but King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

The ascension validates the fullness of Christ’s work.

When Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, God didn’t cast Him away. We take this for granted and barely stop to think about its significance. But think about this: had Christ’s work on earth been lacking in any way, God could not have received Him at His right side. 

But He did. As we wrote in Discipleship Lab: Gospel Foundation,

By receiving Jesus at His side, God verifies that Jesus’ work through His life, death, and resurrection is perfect and complete.

The ascension of Jesus is like God’s stamp of approval. God accepts Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. Our sin is dealt with once and for all. Hebrews 9:12 and 24 say, 

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption….For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 

Jesus didn’t just say “it is finished” (John 19:30) of His own volition; the Godhead agrees that it is.

The ascension begins the next stage of Christ’s work.

The ascension proves the completion of Christ’s work on earth, but it also begins the next stage of Christ’s work in heaven. Jesus isn’t just sitting next to God eating popcorn and watching the events of our lives unfold. He is actively, constantly interceding for us, testifying to God that we belong to Him and that His blood covers over our sins. 

What does this mean? For every charge Satan throws against us, Jesus is at the right hand of God refuting Satan’s accusations, saying, “My blood covered that…my blood covered that…I already paid for that…that one, too.”  He is our defense lawyer and our judge before the Father on our behalf. He declares both that we were guilty, but the debt has already been paid (see Colossians 2:14-15) and we are no longer guilty, for we wear His righteousness (see Philippians 3:9). 

Romans 8:34 and 38-39 says,

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us….For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because Jesus ascended to heaven and intercedes for us, no one can condemn us, and nothing can separate us from God’s love. That is a powerful reality!

The ascension imparts the Spirit to Christ’s followers.

Jesus told His disciples that it was actually better for them that He ascended to heaven than stay on earth. He says in John 16:7,

Anyway, I am telling you the truth. It is better for you if I go away. If I do not go away, the one who is to help you will not come to you.

Had Jesus stayed on earth, we would have His body beside us to walk with us and talk with us. I don’t know about you, but I often wish I could time travel back to the days of Jesus’ ministry when I could see Him, touch Him, hear His voice. But Jesus says there is actually something better than His presence and power beside us—it’s His presence and power inside us. 

As followers of Jesus, we are given the incredible gift of the Holy Spirit. We are the dwelling place of God on earth. The Spirit comforts us, leads us, convicts us, guides us, empowers us, helps us pray, transforms us, seals us for eternity…and so much more.

The Spirit is God’s incontestable stamp that we belong to Him, and nothing can interfere with that. While Jesus intercedes before God in heaven to bear witness that we are His children, the Spirit testifies to our own hearts and to others that we belong to Him. Romans 8:15-16 says,

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Because this is true, we get to go out with full confidence in the power of the Spirit, with the presence of the Spirit, clinging to the promise of the Spirit, to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth, bringing this glorious good news to every nation, tongue, and tribe. 

The ascension satisfies our uncertainty.

When we wonder if Christ’s life, death, and resurrection were enough, remember the ascension. Jesus rested, and so can we.

When we question if God really accepts Christ’s sacrifice in place of our ugly, nasty sins, remember the ascension. God accepted Christ’s work as complete, and so can we.

When we hear the accusations of the enemy shouting condemnation, remember the ascension. Jesus speaks a better word, and so can we.

When we feel alone, lack power in our set apart living, and doubt God’s love, remember the ascension. The Spirit is with us and for us in all that we do for His glory, so that we can. 

Teach the Ascension

As you reflect on the powerful reality of why the ascension matters, don’t neglect this in your discipleship of others. Use this next month to deepen your own understanding by meditating on the Scripture passages above and researching the topic further—then teach what you’ve learned to those you are leading. 

I gave you five reasons why the ascension matters. I’m sure there are more, but given that there are five weeks between now and Ascension Day, what if you (and your students) take one reason per week to think on? Reflect together. Dialogue about why that matters. Find additional Scripture to support it. Sings (or write) songs about it. Let it sink into your hearts: the ascension matters!