What’s Your View of the Ascension?

The disciples watched in amazement.

Wonders never ceased.  First, they watched as the Romans crucified their beloved Rabbi, the one they believed to be the Messiah.  Next, they rejoiced when they realized He was indeed risen from the grave — just as He had promised them.  They listened intently as He gave them instructions: the Holy Spirit will come and baptize you; when you receive power from the Holy Spirit, go out as witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the rest of the world.

And now…

The disciples watched in amazement.

Jesus ascended into heaven in a cloud.

Some men (angels, really) asked the disciples why they were amazed.

Really?  They are watching the Son of God ascend in a cloud.  How often does someone see another person ascend into heaven?  Wouldn’t you be amazed at such a sight?  I know I would be.  Amazement would be a natural reaction.

So why the odd question…Why are you amazed?

The disciples weren’t the first people to witness Jesus ascend into heaven.  Daniel saw Jesus’ ascension approximately 580 years before the disciples saw it.  The disciples saw the ascension from an earthly perspective, while Daniel saw it from a heavenly perspective.∗

Daniel saw the Son of Man ascending to the throne of God with the clouds.  And, he saw Jesus receive an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed, along with all the glory, power, and dominion of that kingdom so that all the peoples and nations and tribes of the world might serve Him.

Instead of being amazed, Daniel was perplexed.

So, Daniel asked one standing nearby (an angel) what the vision meant.

The reply?

The saints receive the kingdom and will possess it forever.

Daniel sees Jesus receive an everlasting kingdom, but he’s told that the saints are the ones who receive and possess the kingdom forever.

So which is it?  Both.

Jesus is the Head, and the Church (the saints) is His Body.

When Jesus ascended in the clouds, he ascended to the throne of the Most High and received a kingdom.  And when He received His kingdom, the Church also received the kingdom.  This is why Paul writes in Romans 8:17 that we are joint heirs with Christ.

So what is your view of the ascension?  Are you amazed like the disciples?  Are you perplexed like Daniel?

More importantly, what will you do now that you know the disciples witnessed the fulfillment of Daniel’s vision of the ascension?  Now that you know you, as a member of the Body of Christ, have received the kingdom.  Now that you know you are ruling and reigning over the nations with Him (Rev.2:26).

* See Acts 1:9-11 and Daniel 7:13-15