Ascension of the Lord – The importance of Christ’s return – Blog

Described in the New Testament, the ascension of the lord to heaven is full of symbolism and represents the event in which Jesus was taken to heaven with his physical body, before his Eleven apostles, on the fortieth day of the resurrection. An angel informed the disciples that the second coming of Jesus will take place in the same way that he ascended into heaven. Detailed descriptions of Jesus’ ascension are in the Gospels of Luke and Mark, with more detail in the book of the Acts of the Apostles.

The Celebration of the Ascension of the Lord

The claim that Jesus’ humanity was taken to heaven is made explicit in the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed. Like this remarkable event, the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus is celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday, always on a Thursday, according to tradition.

This is a Christian celebration repeated at least since the fourth century and is considered one of the five great milestones of the Gospel narrative of the life of Jesus, with baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion and resurrection at its side.

The iconographic representation of the ascension of the Lord was established around the 6th century and began to be represented inside Catholic churches around the 9th century. In the images, Jesus gives his blessing pointing to the earth with his right hand and a group of people below him, making his elevation to heaven clear.

Meanings of the Ascension of the Lord

The ascension is nothing more than the elevation of Jesus to heaven. The only savior and priest of the eternal Covenant exercises his priesthood on a permanent basis, so he is able to have his divinity sacramented not by the hands of men, but by God himself who takes him to himself. Hence his unparalleled ability to save us all and to intercede for his children.

In Heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, with all the honor and glory that only a deity is capable of.

Ascension of the Lord Jesus in Catholicism

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Lord’s ascension into heaven signifies his participation, in his humanity, in the power and authority of God.
The Catholic documents that guide their faithful emphasize that the scriptures define Jesus as someone who first instructed his people and followers to then take the place that is rightfully his – heaven, next to the Father.

Ascension of the Lord Jesus in the Orthodox Church and Eastern Churches

The knowledge and beliefs of the theologies of the Orthodox Church and of the Eastern Churches see the ascension of Jesus as the maximum point of the Incarnation and its mystery.

It marks the end of Jesus’ physical presence with his apostles and consummates the divine union with man, just as Jesus is glorified by taking over his place at the right hand of the Father. The ascension of the Lord is the ultimate symbol of the human and divine natures of Christ.

Ascension of the Lord Jesus in Protestantism

According to the tradition of Protestantism, from the ancient knowledge of the tradition of Calvinism and Presbyterianism, expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith, the ascension of Jesus took place on the third day, when he rose from the dead and in the same body with the who suffered the scourge of crucifixion. In other words, there is a certain difference in conceptualization in relation to Catholic and Orthodox beliefs.

Feast of the Ascension of Jesus

The feast of the Ascension of Christ is one of the great feasts of the Catholic liturgy calendar, celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter, a Thursday, or the following Sunday, according to the convenience of the parish.

This festival is ecumenical, that is, celebrated by various religions of Christian origin. The importance of this celebration for the Christian world is also reflected in art, as there are many representations of Jesus Christ’s ascent to heaven since the 6th century.

In most of them, the scenes are represented by the heavenly part and the earthly part. In it, Jesus is shown ascending, sometimes carrying a sash, with his right hand blessing the entire church and with his left hand holding something similar to the gospel.

Some excerpts describing the Ascension of Jesus in the Bible

“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself” (Jn 12:32)

“And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19)

“God manifested his strength in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heaven, far above all authority, power, potency, sovereignty, or any title that can be named not only in this world, but still in the future. Yes, he put everything under his feet and made him, who is above all, the Head of the Church, which is his body, the fullness of him who possesses the universal fullness” (Eph 1:20-23)

Now that you have a better understanding of the ascension of the lordalso check: