Celebrating Ascension Day in the Christian Tradition
Ascension Day commemorates Jesus Christ's bodily ascension into heaven forty days after his resurrection [1]. This event is a cardinal doctrine of the gospel, following Christ's resurrection, which is itself a foundational historical fact for Christian faith [5]. The ascension is described in Acts 1:9, occurring from the Mount of Olives while Jesus was blessing his disciples [1].
The biblical narrative indicates that Jesus' ascension was foretold by himself (John 6:62; 14:28) and prophesied in the Psalms (Psalm 24:7; 68:18) [1]. The ascension signifies Christ's triumphant return to supreme power and dignity, as indicated in Luke 24:26 and Ephesians 1:20-21 [1]. It marks his exaltation to a position of authority over all creation, as seen in passages like Acts 2:32-36 and Philippians 2:9-11 [10].
The theological significance of the ascension extends to several key aspects of Christian belief:
- Intercession: Christ ascended to intercede for believers (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 9:24) [1].
- Forerunner: He serves as a forerunner for his people, paving the way to heaven (Hebrews 6:20) [1].
- Sending of the Holy Spirit: The ascension was necessary for the sending of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7; Acts 2:33) [1].
- Believers' Position: Through Christ's ascension, believers are considered to be "raised up together" and made to "sit together with Christ" in heavenly places, though they do not share His unique prerogative of sitting at the right hand of God [7, 2].
While the specific observance of "Ascension Day" as a feast is not explicitly detailed in the same way as other biblical feasts like Pentecost or the Feast of Unleavened Bread [3, 6], the event itself is foundational. Feasts in the biblical tradition often marked significant events, such as harvest or specific historical moments, and involved communal celebration [4]. The early Christian church gradually shifted its primary day of worship from the Jewish Sabbath (the seventh day) to the first day of the week, known as the Lord's Day, to commemorate Jesus' resurrection [8, 9]. This shift highlights the importance of Christ's post-resurrection actions, including the ascension, in shaping Christian worship and calendar.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ascension of Christ, The — Prophecies respecting -- Ps 24:7; 68:18; Eph 4:7,8. Foretold by himself -- Joh 6:62; 7:33; 14:28; 16:5; 20:17. Forty days after his resurrection -- Ac 1:3. Described -- Ac 1:9. From Mount Olivet -- Lu 24:50; Mr 11:1; Ac 1:12. While blessing his disciples -- Lu 24:50. When he had atoned for sin -- Heb 9:12; 10:12. Was triumphant -- Ps 68:18. Was to supreme power and dignity -- Lu 24:26; Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. As the forerunner of his people -- Heb 6:20. To intercede -- Ro 8:34; Heb 9:24. To send the Holy Spirit -- Joh 16:7; Ac 2:33. To recei”
- Colossians “Colossians 3:1 (Webster) — If ye then be raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
- II Chronicles “II Chronicles 8:13 (YLT) — even by the matter of a day in its day, to cause to ascend according to the command of Moses, on sabbaths, and on new moons, and on appointed seasons, three times in a year--in the feast of unleavened things, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Feast — As a mark of hospitality (Gen. 19:3; 2 Sam. 3:20; 2 Kings 6:23); on occasions of domestic joy (Luke 15:23; Gen. 21:8); on birthdays (Gen. 40:20; Job 1:4; Matt. 14:6); and on the occasion of a marriage (Judg. 14:10; Gen. 29:22). Feasting was a part of the observances connected with the offering up of sacrifices (Deut. 12:6, 7; 1 Sam. 9:19; 16:3, 5), and with the annual festivals (Deut. 16:11). "It was one of the designs of the greater solemnities, which required the attendance of the people at the sacred tent, that the oneness of the nation might be maintained”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of Christ — One of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain (1 Cor. 15:14). The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact. On the day of Pentecost Peter argued the necessity of Christ's resurrection from the prediction in Ps. 16 (Acts 2:24-28). In his own discourses, also, our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection (Matt. 20:19; Mark 9:9; 14:28; Luke 18:33; John 2:19-22). The evangelists give circumstantial accounts of the facts connected with that event, and the apostles, ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pentecost — I.e., "fiftieth", found only in the New Testament (Acts 2:1; 20:16; 1 Cor. 16:8). The festival so named is first spoken of in Ex. 23:16 as "the feast of harvest," and again in Ex. 34:22 as "the day of the firstfruits" (Num. 28:26). From the sixteenth of the month of Nisan (the second day of the Passover), seven complete weeks, i.e., forty-nine days, were to be reckoned, and this feast was held on the fiftieth day. The manner in which it was to be kept is described in Lev. 23:15-19; Num. 28:27-29. Besides the sacrifices prescribed for the occasion, every o”
- Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 2:6: raised us up together--with Christ. The "raising up" presupposes previous quickening of Jesus in the tomb, and of us in the grave of our sins. made us sit together--with Christ, namely, in His ascension. Believers are bodily in heaven in point of right, and virtually so in spirit, and have each their own place assigned there, which in due time they shall take possession of (Phi 3:20-21). He does not say, "on the right hand of God"; a prerogative reserved to Christ peculiarly; though they shall share His throne (Rev 3:21). in Christ Jesus--Our uni”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 16:2: first day of . . . week--already kept sacred by Christians as the day of the Lord's resurrection, the beginning day both of the physical and of the new spiritual creations: it gradually superseded the Jewish sabbath on the seventh day (Psa 118:22-24; Joh 20:19, Joh 20:26; Act 20:7; Rev 1:10). So the beginning of the year was changed from autumn to spring when Israel was brought out of Egypt. Three annual feasts, all typical of Christian truths, were directed to be kept on the first day of the week: the feast of the wave offering of the first she”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:10: 1:10 the Lord’s Day: This designation was used in the Roman world to refer to celebrations in honor of Caesar, but Christians used it to refer to their weekly worship, celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. The earliest Christians worshiped in Jewish synagogues on the Sabbath, the last day of the week (Acts 18:4), but by the time of Revelation, they were excluded from synagogues and gathered on the day that commemorated the resurrection, the first day of the week (see study note on Luke 24:1; see also Acts 20:7). • The loud voice like a trumpet blast was an announce”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 24:51: 24:51 Cp. 2 Kgs 2:11. Jesus’ ascension was his exaltation to a position of authority over all creation (see Acts 2:32-36; 5:31; Eph 1:19-23; Phil 2:9-11; Heb 1:13).”