Ascension of Christ

The ascension marks the close of Christ's earthly ministry, the return of the resurrected body to be with the Father (Acts 7:56 ) where the eternal Word had been prior to His birth (John 1:1; Revelation 12:5 ). The ascension gave final confirmation that Jesus was the victorious, eternal Son of God (Hebrews 1:1-13 ). In the ascension God exalted Christ and made possible His continuing ministry of intercession for believers, allowing Him to prepare an eternal place for His followers (John 14:2 ). The ascension emphatically placed Christ's last commission to evangelize the world in the minds of the eye-witnesses. With the ascension, Christ prepared the way for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to come in power for His mission with believers (John 16:5-10 ) and to give spiritual gifts to His people (Ephesians 4:7-10 ). The ascended Lord continued to call people to fulfill His mission (Acts 9:1-18; Romans 15:18; 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 2:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:17-18 ). The ascension in its ultimate meaning shows God's unsurpassed power and made plain that Jesus is the supreme Power and Ruler of the universe for all eternity (Ephesians 1:20-23 ). The ascended Christ gives hope of resurrection and eternal life with Christ to all believers and thus encourages them to live the life to which Christ calls them (Colossians 3:1-4 ).