Ascension Day at Kwasizabantu - 13 May 2010

Even though Ascension Day has been removed from the calendar of holidays in South Africa, it is still remembered as a special day by us Christians. Accordingly, we close our institutions, Domino Servite School and Cedar College of Education. A service is held in the Auditorium, like Sunday services, at 11am (summary of sermon here).

The following thoughts about Ascension Day has been written for 2010 by CFT:

CHRIST'S ASCENSION - VICTORY AND EMPOWERMENT

Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11

Forty days after the resurrection, Jesus and His disciples went to Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem. There, Jesus promised His followers that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit, and He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until the Spirit had come. Then Jesus blessed them, and as He gave the blessing, He began to ascend into heaven. The account of Jesus' ascension is found in Luke 24:50-51 and Acts 1:9-11.

For many Christians the word "ascension" is a forgotten part of Jesus' ministry. The Ascension was an integral part of the work of Christ as our Saviour. It was not the end of it. The Gospel narrative is described by Luke as “all that Jesus began both to do and to teach.” He did not cease to live and work when He went away from earth. Men are not saved merely by Christ’s death on Calvary; each one is saved by a personal relation with Christ, and by the work of Christ, which goes on in his life from the day he settles the great question until he enters heaven. Thus the work of Christ is going on; He only began it in His years on the earth. The coming of the Spirit was really the return of Christ to this world to continue His ministry. His work is carried on, too, by His people in this world. We are the body of Christ and we are to be Christ to others; Christ would live in us and work through us.

Jesus' ascension brought to an end the time of His ministry as God in man. And it began the time of His ministry as God in man, the church. God would minister through His Word and His ministers in the church. The church is Christ's body in the earth (Ephesians 5:30; 4:15-16). The ascension forms the point of continuity between "all that He began to do and to teach (Acts 1:1), and what the apostles and the church continued to do and to teach after His departure.

Another important truth concerning Christ's ascension is that He ascended on High with His own blood to make atonement for the sins of men (Hebrews 2:17). As High Priest forever, He went before the eternal mercy seat (Hebrews 9:11-12). Having obtained eternal redemption for all who would believe in Him, He sat down in His glory. He took His place as supreme authority, whose throne we may now approach "with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). A new covenant has been ratified between God and man, sealed by the blood of a righteous man, God's own Lamb.

His ascension meant that He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in believers, taking the place of His bodily presence, and continuing what He had done while here (John 14:16-17; 16:5-7). "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:25-26). And, "He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you" (John 16:14). Jesus lives in believers by God's Spirit and continues His work in them and through them.

Dr. Pusey, a great 19th Century Anglican preacher puts it this way in his sermon for the Ascension,

"O choose ye then, on this Great Day, if ye have not yet chosen; if ye have, in the light of that Heaven which your Saviour this day opened for you, opens to you, pray ye Him to bind your choice by the bonds of His Everlasting Love. Let not this great sight fade from your eyes. Let not the tinsel of the world dazzle the eyes which were formed to "see the King in His Beauty." Let not the praise of men dull the ears, which were formed to hear the Blissful Words, "well done, good and faithful servant." Let not the cares, riches, pleasures of this world, choke the heart, which was formed to contain the love of God. Pray and all is thine. Thine is God Himself, who teacheth thee to pray for Himself. To pray is to go forth from earth, and to live in Heaven. Learn to commend thy daily acts to God, so shall the dry every-day duties of common life be steps to Heaven, and lift thy heart thither: commend thyself to God in moments of leisure, so shall thy rest be rest in God, and conduct thee to thine Everlasting Rest. He, thy Head, is Above; shall the heart be any more below?"

Ascension Day is no longer a public holiday in South Africa. Do not let Christ's Ascension fade from your mind and heart. Remind your fellow believers.