"With the incarnation, the ministry of Jesus on earth began; with the ascension, the ministry of Jesus from heaven began, the same Lord and the same ministry, yet different in manner, because it is now in the agency and power of the Holy Spirit. Descent and ascent run parallel to one another, completing the loop, as it were, of our Lord's life and ministry. The first means Jesus' ministry on earth, in his flesh as we know it. The second means Jesus' ministry from heaven in his flesh, now as a spiritual body and life-giving spirit." (Andrew Purves, The Resurrection of Ministry, 59)

Jesus' final withdrawal from human sight, to rule over creation until he returns to judgment, was presented to the disciples' outward eyes as a vertical ascension - the symbol of exaltation to the highest honor - to confirm the reality of his divine claims. What does it signify to us today?

First, it signifies Christ's victory over evil. Christ is "seated at God's right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Eph.1:20-21)

These spiritual entities represent anything that seeks to corrupt us, or diminish us, or debase us, or our families, or our finances, or the world, or the culture, or the environment, or the economy, or politics, or international affairs, or our community, or our health. No matter how dark the present may look, no matter how powerful the enemies of God may appear, no matter how difficult the opposition is to God's will, no matter how dismal our prospects may seem, no matter what threats are on the horizon, no matter the attraction of cynicism and pessimism:

And tho this world with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thru us. The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him His rage we can endure, for lo his doom is sure: One little word shall fell him. (Martin Luther)

The Ascension tells us that Christ really rules the world. He has won the decisive victory over the dark powers that seek to control us. The result is sure even though the defeated enemy may counterattack. Satan cannot ultimately succeed. With Christ we need never despair. We are assured of final victory.

"The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies." (Ps.110:1,2 cf. Matt.22:44)

Second, it signifies Christ's intercession for us in the place of power (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). Jesus, in his humanity, as well as his divinity, has the sovereign right and power to intervene on our behalf, to take action in our interest. He represents us in the throne room of heaven. He is our advocate. When we seem so much alone and powerless we can be assured that we have an intercessor in the presence of God. The Ascension tells us that Jesus is looking out for us. Jesus has our back. Jesus is on our side.

When we are experiencing grief and despair - the pain of intense loss - and we don't know what to do or to say, we need to be aware that Christ is present in heaven interceding for us. Because of having suffered in his humanity he is aware of our pain, and is at the right hand of God interceding for us. He sends us the Holy Spirit as the present form of his presence. We are not alone. We are not powerless. Jesus is at work even though we cannot see him with our physical eyes. The ascended Christ presents us in his own name, for his own sake, to the Father. We are received with love. Jesus says to us: "Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Third, it signifies Christ's fellowship with his people. "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." (Eph.1:22-23) We are connected with Jesus. The life of the world to come has begun in us already. The life of heaven is tasted by us here on earth. We have been given in the church, his body, the fullness of Christ. "You have died and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Col.3:3) "God made us alive together with Christ and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph.2:4ff.) Jesus fills us with his presence.

"The ascension means that Jesus has a continuing ministry: he presents us to the Father, he intercedes for us, and he sends us the Holy Spirit to join us to his own life and mission to the glory of the Father, for the sake of the world.... The heart of mature faith and faithful ministry is communion with a living Lord. This means sharing in his life and his life's purpose." (Purves, 63)

Christ is filling everything in every way with his purpose and presence and power. Jesus is living and reigning. This is not just a general concept of the presence and power of God. It is Jesus carrying his and our humanity who is seated at God's right hand, ruling the world, interceding for us, filling us with his Spirit. We witness to his work. We don't do his work for him. He does it through us and before us. He has done it and is doing it. The purpose of the church is not to run programs and do religious things. We witness and proclaim what Jesus is doing in the lives of his people. It is Jesus who raises the dead, forgives the sinful, heals the sick, brings in his kingdom, challenges our priorities, comforts the sorrowing, and finds the lost, not us. He wants us to join him in what he is doing. Jesus is active. What is he doing? He encounters us through the people and circumstances of our lives. He comes and meets us and draws us into his life and ministry. This is what he is doing as we trust in him as our ascended Lord.

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