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The Ascended Christ
Today is Ascension Day—a day that is often neglected. Coming 40 days after Easter, it marks the occasion when the risen Christ ascended to the Father in glory.
W. H. Griffith Thomas writes in The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: “The ascension is not only a great fact of the New Testament, but a great factor in the life of Christ and Christians, and no complete view of Jesus Christ is possible unless the ascension and its consequences are included.”
How Would You Answer?
Sir Norman Anderson was invited to give a television talk on the evidence for Christ’s resurrection, a subject that he had written much about. When his son died of cancer, the program producers offered to cancel his participation, saying, “You can’t speak about the resurrection when you’ve just lost a son.” But Anderson said, “I want to speak about it now even more.” And so, sad in heart but with great assurance, he spoke of Christ’s resurrection, and ours as believers.
Why The Ascension?
God raised Jesus from the grave and exalted Him to His right hand in heaven (Ephesians 1:20). Yet for 40 days Jesus made many bodily appearances to His disciples. But the 40th day was different. With His disciples looking on, He slowly ascended into the sky until a cloud hid Him from view (Acts 1:9).
Why didn’t Jesus continue His visible appearances on earth?
