Does the Ascension Matter?
Several members of our church asked a good question after a recent sermon I preached in our Acts series. “Why did Jesus have to ascend to heaven? Could he not have poured out the Holy Spirit and continued to dwell among us in bodily form?”
It’s easy to minimize the importance of Christ’s ascension in comparison to other aspects of his saving work. In his concise, systematic theology, Daily Doctrine, Kevin DeYoung explains why the ascension matters and what we would lose, spiritually speaking, if Christ is not exalted to the right hand of the throne of God. [1] If the ascension is a new doctrine for you, take a few minutes to read the Bible verses he references.
“The ascension is highlighted throughout the New Testament as a necessary precursor to a number of blessings in the age of the Spirit. The ascension is linked to the giving of messianic gifts (Ephesians 4:8-10), to the intercession of our high priest (Hebrews 4:14-16), and to the subjection of all things under Christ’s feet (1 Peter 3:22). Because Jesus is our conquering King, he is positioned to gift us with the spoils of victory. Because Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, he is able to plead his finished work on our behalf. And because Jesus is enthroned on high, he is able to rule over all things in heaven and on earth.
“What then does the oft-overlooked ascension mean for us? First, the ascension means that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1; Romans 8:34). Second, the ascension means God’s people are, in a manner of speaking, already in heaven. We set our minds on things that are above, because our lives are hidden with Christ who dwells above (Colossians 3:2-3). Third, the ascension means human flesh sits enthroned in heaven. God has granted all power and authority to a man (Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 1:21-22). Jesus Christ is exercising the dominion that human beings were made to have from the beginning (Genesis 1:28). The ruin of the first Adam is being undone by the reign of the second.
“Because of Christ’s ascension we know the resurrection is real, the incarnation continues, Christ’s humanity lives on in heaven, the Spirit of Jesus can live in our hearts, and a flesh-and-blood, divine human being rules the universe.”
Praise God our Savior not only lived our life, died our death, and rose from the grave. He was also exalted to heaven. That’s exceedingly good news for us!
[1] Kevin DeYoung, Daily Doctrine: A One-Year Guide to Systematic Theology (CrossWay: Wheaton, IL, 2024), 207.