Bible Word of the Day
Ascension (Ascension of Jesus)
Meaning
The word Ascension as used in Biblical terms refers to an event which occurred after the resurrection of Jesus. When Jesus was crucified His body was laid in a tomb and He rose again the third day, which we celebrate as Easter every year. However, after the resurrection of Jesus, He was not only witnessed by others, but He interacted with hundreds of people. One event tells us He was witnessed to over five hundred of His followers at one time. Then after forty days Jesus traveled with His disciples to the Mount of Olives and there He ascended into Heaven and two angels appeared.
Acts 1:9-11 gives us an account of the ascension of Jesus. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'”
The cloud mentioned here is similar to the “Shekinah” cloud of glory which is associated with God alone. The ascension of Jesus marks the end of His earthly ministry and the beginning of His ministry seated at the right hand of God the Father where Jesus makes intercession for us on a daily basis. When Christians speak of the ascension of Jesus we are referring to the period of time from His resurrection till the time He ascended back into Heaven.
“Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’ Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.” (Book of Acts 1:6-12)