Tuesday Read: The Ascension Approaches - Eighteen Days Away
Eighteen days from now (May 14, 2026), we'll observe Ascension Thursday - forty days after Easter, commemorating Jesus's return to the Father. The ascension matters enormously but often gets overlooked in the Christian calendar. We celebrate Christmas (the coming) and Easter (the resurrection) enthusiastically, but ascension? It's barely on our radar. Yet the ascension completes what incarnation began.
Acts records the event: "After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 'Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven'" (Acts 1:9-11).
The ascension accomplished several crucial purposes. First, it completed Jesus's earthly mission. He came (incarnation), lived (ministry), died (atonement), rose (resurrection), and returned (ascension). The cycle was complete. He had accomplished everything necessary for salvation. The ascension was coronation - Jesus taking his rightful place at the Father's right hand, receiving the authority and glory he'd temporarily laid aside.
Second, the ascension made the Spirit's coming possible. Jesus told his disciples: "It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you" (John 16:7). This seems counterintuitive - how is Jesus leaving good? But his physical presence was localized; he could only be in one place at a time. Through the Spirit, he could be present with all believers everywhere simultaneously.
Third, Jesus ascended to serve as our high priest and advocate. "We have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1). He entered the true heavenly sanctuary to intercede for us continuously (Hebrews 7:25). His ascended ministry matters as much as his earthly ministry. He's not inactive in heaven; he's actively interceding for his people.
Fourth, Jesus ascended to prepare a place for believers. He told his disciples: "My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3). The ascension was departure with purpose - preparing for our eventual arrival.
Fifth, the ascension established Jesus's cosmic authority. "God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10). Jesus isn't wandering earth as itinerant teacher; he's reigning as exalted Lord over all creation.
These eighteen days between now and Ascension Thursday are part of the forty days Jesus spent with his disciples after resurrection. During this time, "he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3). The risen Christ proved his resurrection was real and taught about his kingdom before ascending.
This challenges how you think about Jesus's current activity. He's not distant or inactive. He's present through the Spirit, interceding as high priest, preparing your place, and reigning over all. The ascension didn't end Jesus's involvement with his people; it changed how he's involved. Instead of being physically present with a few disciples in first-century Palestine, he's spiritually present with all disciples in all places at all times.
The disciples' response to ascension matters. They "worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy" (Luke 24:52). Jesus's departure didn't devastate them because they understood it was good - necessary for the Spirit's coming, essential for the mission's advancement, prerequisite for universal presence. They returned joyfully to wait for the promised Spirit, knowing that Jesus's ascension meant power was coming.
As you live in these days leading to Ascension Thursday, remember that you're in the same position as the early disciples - living between resurrection and ascension, between what Jesus accomplished and what he's preparing. Resurrection proves death is defeated. Ascension proves Jesus reigns. Together they guarantee that your future is secure, your intercession is heard, and your place is prepared.
