“We live in a world that has a resurrected king forever seated on the throne.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 25, 2024
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:7-8, ESV
When I reflect upon my formation as a Christian, certain themes and points of emphasis were driven home more than others. Rarely have I heard a sermon series on the Minor Prophets or the sacrificial system detailed in the book of Leviticus. On the other hand, I’ve heard countless sermons and lectures on the Sermon on the Mount or the Passion of Christ. And as the fulfillment of every promise of God and the very life of God given for the life of the world, this focus on Christ is for good reason! However, even within the life of Christ, there are areas that seem to be rarely explored or emphasized, and perhaps none are more obvious than his ascension into heaven.
When framed as a narrative, some may simply see the ascension of Christ as the closing of one scene and the opening of another. Christ exits stage right, and the Holy Spirit enters stage left, as it were. Added to this sense is the nature of Christ’s ascension itself. After the drama of the crucifixion and resurrection, some may be tempted to see the ascension as somewhat anticlimactic, with the story of Christ “ending” with him drifting off into a cloud (Acts 1:9). Of course, nothing could be further from the truth!
Though it may not be obvious at first, I find it incredibly helpful to think of the ascension of Christ as a “what,” not a “where.” Let me explain. While it is true that Christ ascended into heaven – the “where” – there exists so much confusion within the Christian family around what heaven is or isn’t, that for most of us this simply serves to confirm what I said above, that Christ exits the scene as the Spirit arrives. However, there’s another truth within this scene that can cast the ascension in an entirely new light. In the ascension, Christ ascends to the throne.
Ascending to a throne is immediately a more concrete image that we can connect with our lived experience on earth. In recent years, for example, Prince Charles ascended to the throne upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. To ascend, in this sense, is to fully take on the rule and reign of the kingdom that the throne represents. Christ’s ascent is best understood in this way. It is the seating of the risen Christ on high as the ruler over all powers, seen and unseen. It is, quite literally, the opposite of exiting the scene but is instead Christ ascending a throne from which he eternally reigns.
And so today, let us never connect the ascension of Christ with the absence of Christ but let it instead remind us that we live in a world that has a resurrected king forever seated on the throne.
Prayer
Father, thank you that in the ascension of Christ we are given a window into your eternal rule and reign, sustaining us daily by your endless compassion and grace. Amen.
Application
Read the whole of Acts 1 today and reflect upon the wonder and mystery of the ascension of Jesus.
Related Reading
Luke 24:50-51; John 20:17; 1 Timothy 3:16
Worship Resource
Kings Kaleidoscope: All Glory Be To Christ
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