Today is a public holiday in Sweden to commemorate the Ascension Day. For all those that don’t know what that really means, it’s the day when Jesus ascended into heaven; 40days after His resurrection from the dead.

I find it remarkable at how Sweden is careful to observe most of the important Christian events some of which I was not aware of before I moved here. I just love it!!

Well, together with my home-group, we took some time to read and meditate on the purpose and power of Jesus’ ascension. It’s a day that is easy to ignore but once you grasp the story surrounding it, you realise how outstanding it is!

Here’s my re-told version of the accounts according to Acts 1:

When Jesus resurrected on the day we celebrate as Easter Sunday, he hang around for forty days giving instructions to the apostles he had chosen; speaking about the Kingdom of God. The disciples at this point were overwhelmed wondering when and how this Kingdom would be reinstated.

It’s at this point that the simple ambiguity of the Kingdom becomes apparent through Jesus response. He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

So the question is, why is Jesus’ ascension a date to reckon with? Here’re some of the reasons that we meditated upon…

Jesus Ascended:

• So that the door of the Kingdom of God would be open!

Jesus ascension ushered man into the Kingdom of Light!

His ascension marked the commencement of the possibility of a new life through the Holy Spirit; the Kingdom of God.

• So that we would receive the power of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, ”Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

The Advocate here is the third person of God, The Holy Spirit. He would dwell in the hearts of all those that believed in the finished work of Jesus death and resurrection. He would be the mark and the empowerment of Jesus disciples in this new life; the Kingdom of God!

Jesus had to go for the Holy Spirit to come.

• To prepare a place for us

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

I have a mansion in glory that outshines the skies…pretty exciting! Jesus is preparing for all those who choose to spend eternity with Him in heaven. He ascended to continue working on our behalf so that when the time comes, He will come back for us and take us to our eternal home in heaven 😉

• To take His seat of intercession

Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. He did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

Jesus is our High Priest. He paid the price for sin once and for all and now stands in the gap until His second return, the day of our salvation. He feels our pain and sorrows and nothing we go through is far removed from Him because He too suffered what we do…that is why He is the perfect High Priest, that is why He had to ascend into heaven!

• To take His seat of authority and power

Jesus Christ has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. He is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Jesus ascension marked the final victory as He is now seated on the throne above everything! At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. It is no wonder that at the mention of His name; Jesus, all chains are broken!! He is above it all!!

Finally:

Jesus did not only resurrect from the dead, He also ascended back into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty!!

The ascension is the continuation of the perfect plan of our restoration into the Kingdom life that we now enjoy…life in abundance by the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.

Let His ascension count in your life!

Acts 1:1-11, John 16:7 & 14:2,  Romans 8:34, Hebrews 9:24, 1Peter 3:22, Ephesians 1:20-21