Jesus’ ascension as recorded in the Gospels and Acts 1, is often an overlooked event of Jesus’ life. His death and resurrection are celebrated on Good Friday and Easter. The coming of the Holy Spirit is remembered at Pentecost, but what happened ten days before Pentecost is often overlooked and therefore its significance is neglected as well. What is the significance of Jesus’ ascension?
The simple answer is that Jesus’ ascension explains where Jesus is now and why he is not physically present upon earth. While that is true there is more to it, which Peter alluded to in his sermon ten days after Jesus’ ascension after the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost. Peter connected Jesus’ current exalted state at the right hand of God to David’s prophecy found in Psalm 110. “The LORD said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Peter saw Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of God the Father as a fulfillment of what David had prophesied one thousand years earlier. From this Peter declared that God had made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ (Messiah). While Jesus had been the Messiah while on earth, his role was that of the suffering servant in fulfillment of Isaiah 53. Now Peter declares that Jesus is currently fulfilling the role of Messiah as the fulfillment of the promised Davidic King, the descendant of David who would reign in eternity. Peter declared at Pentecost that the Messianic Age had come, not in its fullest sense, but it had come with the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy of the Lord pouring out his Spirit upon all His people.
When we celebrate Easter, Pentecost, as well as communion, we often look back and remember what Jesus accomplished for us, as well we should. However the ascension of Jesus also reminds us of the present Jesus, who is a reigning King, Lord and Christ. It reminds us of what God is now accomplishing on earth, the second part of David’s prophecy in Psalm 110:1, “until I make your enemies your footstool.” Jesus is reigning now, the Kingdom of God is present on earth, but the fullness of Jesus’ reign has not yet been accomplished. The fact that God is making Jesus’ enemies a footstool during this present time reveals the reality that Jesus’ followers now experience as well as why there are tribulations on earth as Jesus said (John 16:33).
David Freitag 