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The ascension of christ I am well aware that everyone is thinking about the birth of Christ at this time of year; we do so even though we are not aware of the exact day or even the month of His birth many still celebrate Christmas. It is even stranger that many thoughts will be engrossed in the gifts they receive from others. Yes, the birth of Christ is important to me, however, I also remember another important event in the life of Christ; I remember His crucifixion and His resurrection. If Christ had never been born He could not have made atonement for our sins. It is a fact that Jesus was born, He lived, walked upon this earth, He taught and did God’s will and confirmed His teaching by miracles, He was crucified by lawless hands, buried He was resurrected by God because it was not possible that He could be held by death. After His resurrection He appeared alive to many witnesses. And finally He ascended to heaven to be with His heavenly Father. When you consider all that Jesus did while on earth no single action of His is of any more importance than that of His ascension. I would like to remind you of some Scriptural thoughts concerning the ascension of Christ. Concerning His ascension there were prophecies made long before His birth: (Psa 24:7) “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psa 68:18) “ Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” The apostle Paul confirmed that these prophecies had been fulfilled: (Eph 4:7 – 8) “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Paul was a man who knew the Old Testament Scriptures well and if indeed he was inspired by the Holy Spirit all doubts should be erased from our minds. Even before His death Jesus on more than one occasion foretold of His ascension: (John 6:62) “What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” After His crucifixion He continued to say the same thing (John 20:17) “Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” Even if I didn’t have the prophecies of others I would be compelled to believe the prophecies of Jesus. Before His ascension Jesus showed Himself alive for a period of forty days: (Acts 1:3) “To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” He did not go into some dark cave and hide; He showed Himself alive and He even proved that He was alive for forty days! After this forty day period we have a description of His ascension: (Acts 1:9) “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” It would have been great to have been there to see this wonderful event in the life of Christ with our own eyes; but we do have the next best thing, we have eyewitnesses [Notice it says He was received out of their sight and that makes them eyewitnesses]. This adds to the testimony of those who prophesized the ascension of Christ. Not only are we told when and how He ascended we are even told where it occurred: (Acts 1:10 – 12) “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 12Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.” With all this evidence I am a believer; are you?
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