The ascension of Jesus is a significant event in our faith. It
reminds us that Jesus has gone into Heaven to prepare a
place for us, he has gone to the Father's house to make room
for us, “I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am there
you may be also” and because he has gone before and
prepared the way we do not need to fear death. Because of
Jesus’ ascension “death is swallowed up in victory”. Jesus’
ascension could be described as his victory parade, he is
vindicated by the Father and like Elijah is lifted into heavenly
places.
That favourite psalm, Psalm 23, could be described as an
anticipation of the ascension of Jesus and of the hope we
receive in the face of death because of his ascension,
“though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I
will fear no evil, for you are with me”.
As Jesus is ascended, he is no longer restricted by time and
space, he can be with us always. His promise to never leave
us nor forsake us is only possible because of his ascension.
The promise we have in the book of Deuteronomy: “Do
not be afraid or terrified… for the Lord your God goes
with you; he will never leave you” becomes a reality because
of the ascension of Jesus.
Jesus’ divinity is also affirmed in the ascension, he did not
simply rise and die again after his resurrection (as was the
case for Lazarus). Jesus ascended to the right hand of the
Father. In Acts 2:33 we read that he was  “exalted to the right
hand of God and has received from the Father the promised
Holy Spirit”. Listen church, no ascension no Pentecost,

therefore no ascension no Holy Spirit empowered church,
just another religious organisation.
The ascension teaches us that Jesus had to go back to heaven
to assume his rightful position, he was only here for a short
time to accomplish in his death the forgiveness of our sins
and in his resurrection his power over death, which
forgiveness and power over death is now available to those
who follow in his way. Nevertheless, it is only by his
ascension that he can reign at the right hand of God and be
for the church the ascended Lord the church needs him to
be.
I have mentioned before that there are lots of symbols of the
crucifixion around this church and for a short time after
easter we have one symbol of the resurrection in the empty
tomb, but the Christian message does not end in the
crucifixion, not even in the resurrection. So where are the
images of the ascended Jesus? Where is his reign at the
Father’s right hand? Where is the outpouring of the Spirit by
this ascended Jesus?
We do not have the artwork so perhaps we will have to be
the symbol; we will have to be the walking talking images of
the ascended Jesus, demonstrating by our lives and our
worship that he is indeed seated at the right hand of God.
Perhaps after all, the very best evidence that he reigns in
power is not to be seen in church artwork but in the
difference, he makes in your life.
You are the proof, like those simple believers in the Book of
Acts, you are the witnesses. If the early believers had been

asked for proof of Jesus’ ascension, they would have
responded “my life is my only proof” and they would have
challenged those who challenged them “if you put your faith
in him, you too will experience the power of this ascended
Jesus for yourself”.
Jesus Christ rules in heaven now. His ascension marks the
start of the period in which the Church actively shares in
bringing the message of Jesus to the many who will believe
and who will, because of your witness, live with Christ
forever in the place He has prepared for us.
Some of us don’t have many years of witnessing left, the time
is now, the fields are white unto harvest. When Jesus was at
a wedding, he turned water into wine and those who
received this wine to drink testified that the best wine had
been revealed right at the very end of the feast. May it be
said of your life that your latter days were the finest wine.
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given
unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.