We believe that Jesus ascended to heaven, but we also read that He is with us “to the end of the age.” How can both these statements be true?
By rev Janré van Jaarsveld
Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after his resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Bible teaches us that He travelled and preached during these days, preparing his disciples for his departure. In Acts we read how He ascended to heaven. We celebrate this on Ascension Day, as we celebrate that He went to prepare a place for us (John 14:3). Jesus “has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God” (1 Peter 3:22). Let us look at where Jesus is now and what is means to us.
Jesus really ascended to heaven
“And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
Acts 1:9
In his Gospel and in Acts, Luke pays close attention to the facts surrounding Jesus’ Ascension. Jesus led his disciples to Bethany. There He raised his hands and blessed them. While He blessed them, He was taken up into heaven. It is a short and powerful story. His disciples saw his ascension and experienced it; they are witnesses of it.
Because we have the testimony of the disciples in the Bible we can – and should – testify of Jesus’ ascension. Through the eyes and ears of the apostles and through the powerful work of the Holy Spirit we can proclaim to the world: Jesus Christ has really risen and ascended to heaven!
Jesus is also with us on earth
“behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
We know Jesus Christ ascended to heaven and that is clear to us, but Jesus promises in Matthew 28:20 that He is with us for days to come. So how can this be true if he ascended to heaven?
Jesus is truly God and truly man
We confess that Jesus has two natures. He is truly God, and He is truly man. This explains why He really is with us. Jesus is the Son of God, and He has a divine nature that shares all the virtues and attributes of God the Father. But Jesus is also the son of Mary. He has a human nature that shares all the characteristics of man, such as a human mind, soul, and body (Luke 23:46 and John 1:14).
Jesus is human and as human He is now in Heaven. But He is also God! As God, He is always with us. Through the Holy Spirit He is permanently with us. This means that we can talk to Him no matter where we are.
What does it mean to us when we know that Jesus ascended and that He is now in heaven?
Jesus is our King; He rules over everything. He rules over your life. You can know that Jesus will never let you down and will never leave you alone. He is our intercessor with our Heavenly Father. Jesus is our great High Priest. He pleads and prays for us; He is our reliable guarantee.
As He is now with our Heavenly Father, so He will take us to Him when He comes again. He also sent his Spirit to us from heaven, so that our eyes will be fixed on heaven. We have other priorities in life because the power of Jesus’ Spirit works in us.
We confess and believe that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. Acknowledge, believe, and know that He rules here and now from heaven. Confess that He cares for and provides for you every day and watches over your whole life. Give your whole life to him in praise. Remember, He is with you all the days until the end of the world.
