The Forgotten Feast

Today is the eve of the Ascension. If you didn’t realize that, it’s understandable. The Ascension gets overshadowed by the other important Principal Feasts. It comes after Christmas, Lent and Holy Week and is nestled between Easter and Pentecost. Despite The Nicene Creed giving it two full lines, the Ascension can sometimes feel like an afterthought. It also lacks the drama and pageantry (not to mention the consumerism!) associated with Christmas and Easter. No one buys Ascension presents or hunts for Ascension eggs.

But there is tremendous spiritual depth to the Ascension. It includes not only Christ’s departure but, more importantly, His enthronement as king and His ongoing intercession for His people. The Ascension is not just an optional epilogue to the life of Christ — it is the necessary completion of Christ’s saving work. Without it, the story of Jesus would feel unfinished.

The Ascension has ongoing significance in the present, too. It stresses that Christ is Lord now, not just back then. N.T. Wright, in his book “Surprised by Hope,” describes it this way: “The Ascension is about the continuing work of Jesus … He is ruling the world and calling us to implement that rule.” Notice Wright’s emphasis on the “continuing” work of Christ. Christ is at work now in our lives as the ruler of all things. There are several important implications to this.

First, the Ascension anchors our hope in the midst of a chaotic world. The Ascension answers the question: Who is really in charge? Our culture would lead us to think that there are other forces that control and shape the world, but Christians would beg to differ. It’s not the stock market. It’s not the media. It’s not cultural trends. It is Christ who is in charge. He reigns. The Ascension reminds us of this.

Second, the Ascension gives us purpose in life. If you recall, right before Jesus ascends, He sends His disciples into the world to do His work (Matthew 28). This is also our mission. As disciples of King Jesus — who possesses “all authority in Heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18) — we are called to participate in God’s redemptive mission.

Finally, the Ascension broadens our perspective. It reminds us that our lives are woven into a much larger narrative. Seeing ourselves as part of God’s grand story shapes even the smallest details of our lives. As C. S. Lewis reminds us, “Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’ …”^[1] So, as you begin your day today, remember who is in charge: King Jesus. Knowing this changes everything.

[1] C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity,” Book III, Chapter 10.