Why is it important to remind ourselves as Christians about the meaning of Christ's Ascension and further to acknowledge his Ascension on a special day?Christ's Ascension was/is important because Jesus was going to:
1. send the Holy Spirit on his disciples 'not many days hence' (Act 1.5);
2. intercede for his saints (those who believe in Jesus) (Heb 1.3; 7.25);
3. war as the exalted Lord along with the Father until all the Son's enemies are subdued (Acts 2.34-35; 1 Cor 15.24-28);
4. come again to exercise compassionate judgement upon mankind both dead and alive.
Ascension Day is celebrated 40 days after Easter Day; and just as Easter is a movable feast so is Ascension Day (and also Pentecost too). In AD 2013, Ascension Day is Thursday May 9th. If we examine (a traditional version of) the Apostles' Creed we find a direct reference to Christ's Ascension:
the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick [living] and the dead.The Apostles' Creed (developed between c. AD215 and the 6th century AD) mentions Christ's Ascension to the place of authority at the right hand of 'God the Father Almighty'.
Christ the Warrior Lord
Christ is now exalted in heaven and on earth (Matt 28.18-19); yet he still waits until his enemies become his footstool (Acts 2.34-35). In fact, the apostle Peter in Acts is quoting Psalm 110.1 which happens to be the most quoted (e.g., Heb 1.13), or alluded to (e.g., Heb 1.3), verse in the NT!
In 1 Cor 15.24-25, we read how Christ is active now in 'putting down all enemies under his feet'. Interesting too is the observation that the Father is also said to have 'put all things under his [Jesus'] feet' (1 Cor 15.28). (The latter shows the close connection between the Father and the Son in the Godhead.)
Hence, our Lord Jesus is not passively sitting in heaven but actively at war against anything that is in opposition to the Father's will. The Father's will is pre-eminent because although members of the Trinity are co-equal, co-substantial and co-eternal, the Son and the Spirit have subordinated themselves in love to the Father's will.
In 1 Cor 15.24-25, we read how Christ is active now in 'putting down all enemies under his feet'. Interesting too is the observation that the Father is also said to have 'put all things under his [Jesus'] feet' (1 Cor 15.28). (The latter shows the close connection between the Father and the Son in the Godhead.)
Hence, our Lord Jesus is not passively sitting in heaven but actively at war against anything that is in opposition to the Father's will. The Father's will is pre-eminent because although members of the Trinity are co-equal, co-substantial and co-eternal, the Son and the Spirit have subordinated themselves in love to the Father's will.
