Why celebrate Jesus’ ascension
M Ydear heavenly Father, you know the depths of my sorrow over my sin. Even though it’s painful, I know this sorrow is a gift of grace.
I would far rather be aware of my sin and mourning over it, than to be oblivious of it and self-satisfied, because awareness of it is the first step toward confessing it, repenting of it, forsaking it, and turning back toward You.
How I thank You for granting me a fresh awareness of my sin before a holy God! Not so I can wallow or berate myself, but so I can come to the cross for cleansing. I cannot improve upon David’s repentance prayer in
and so I offer it to You now. ay celebrates Christǯs ealtation. hile on earth, He was a servant.
SCENSION
ow in Heaven, He is the ruler and ord of oalfl.maynenitnedri,nHgeHceoamvepnleatsetdhtehreepwroersenotfatoiuver salvation and guarantees the eventual gloriǦ fication of all who love Him. ust as esus went up to the clouds, He will return the same way. gain ue described the sceneǣ
HDzeanvdenwahsiHleetwh eyntlouop, ebdehsoteldadtwfaostmlyetnoswtoaord by them in white apparel, who also said, Ǯ en of alilee, why do you stand gaing up into HTeahvisesnaǫme esus, who was taen up from you iynotuosHaweavHeimn, gwoililnsto cHoemaveeinn.ǯdzlie manner as esus himself had told his disciples that it wthaesngwooudldfohrehsiemndtothgeomaawnaoyt,hbeerchaeulps ero, tnhlye
Christ pours out his Spirit on the church pinridt tohfattrǯus tehaȋctly what 16:7-16Ȍ. happened on the day ofTheentepciorsi t,dͳeͲscdeanysdeadfteorn etshuesǯcahsucrecnhsiwonit.h
John
power, inaugurating a new age in the history ofTshaalvtǯastwiohny. eter connects esusǯ ealtation anedintgh,etohuetrpeofourein, geoaf lttheed aptirtiht einright hand ǣ tohfe pordo,manisdehoafvtihnegHroeclyeivpeidriftr, ohme htahsepoauthredr
Acts 2:33
houeatrtihnigs. that you yourselves are seeing and
BHlaevsisnigngasccoofmsapllvisahtieodnredemption through his suffering on the cross, the risen and eǦ waltoend, bCyhrgirsat ntoinwgatphpelgieifststhoef sraelpveantitoan che ahnads forgiveness of sins. s eter says in ǣ od ealted him at his right hand as eader faonrdgivaevnieosrs, toof sgiinvse. repentance to srael and
Acts 5:31
The ascended and enthroned Christ cares
Cares for his people’s sufferings
Atforhhimis.suffering people as they bear witness e see this in the first martyr of thewChernistitaenphchenurbcehc.omes Heauvtehnea, nfudllsaowf tthheeHgloolryy opfiriot,dg, anedd einsutos
Acts 7
standing at the right hand of od. nd he sthaeid, oDzneohfolda,n setaentdhiengheaatvtehnesroigphetnheadn, danodf odll.dzoȋf this 7:55–56Ȍ should give us great encourageǦ rmeemnitnǨdshuesnthfeaetltinhge weeaalteidnCohurrisetlhvaes,giuvene
Acts
us his pirit, who e“uips us with the power, obuolrdmnei ssi,oan.d courage we need to accomplish This is the great hope of all Christians. or ust as esus went into Heaven, so will all Christians. arTehloivsienwg whoilal rbedceaaudghwtiullpritsoemfiresett; Hthiomseinwthoe aTihr,eascscaolordnincag.to itahutlh, wisrhitoinpgetiontmheincdh,uCrhchriastǦ tians sometimes conclude their meetings with wthheuowtdomerodcslsat,lrǮyCe,odmsHeciemnosriedolfnetsouabsy.eǯis aobdoauntd ethsuesn, proved it by His resurrection, finished His mHisesicoanmoentoeadritehf.or the worldǯs sins and rise again to give everlasting life to all who believe inHHaivmin.g finished this mission, He ascended into Heaven.