All days are not the same. Some days are different, unique, set apart. We call them “holy days” or holidays. And not all holidays are the same. Some are more special than others.
With that in mind, what would you say is Jesus’ “favorite” holiday? Would it be Christmas, when Jesus left Heaven to come to earth? What about “Good Friday” or even “Resurrection Day?” I suggest Jesus favorite holiday, the day on the Church Calendar that is most special to Him, that gives Him the most pleasure is… Ascension Day. Today (May 10) is that day on the Church Calendar for 2018. For some reason, most of the Church of Jesus Christ today does not recognize this day with anything more than a nob.
But, think with me about some of the significant things that took place on this day. I will briefly highlight 4 of the many things that could be mentioned. I encourage you to look at more of the things that took place on this day and expand on the 4 things I mention here. See a list below.

First, and most obvious, this was the day that Jesus was taken back to Heaven. His long journey to this earth was finally over. It was this day that He received the ultimate “Hero’s Welcome” back to Home! He had received His Father’s assignment, accomplished it perfectly. and now He returned to Him as the Conquering King! And to top it all off, His enemies were now a footstool for His feet. The glory that had been His from all eternity, the glory He had set aside when He came to earth, was now restored to Him.
Second, this was the day Jesus gave us what is appropriately called the Great Commission. Just before He left earth, He turned to His followers and gave us His last command – to carry on His mission of disciple making. This command should dominate all our activity. If we are doing something that is helping people become disciples of Christ, we are obeying Him. If we are doing something that is not helping people become disciples of Christ, we are not obeying Him. Pretty simple, but also pretty all-inclusive.
Third, this is the day that Jesus took on His new assignment as intercessor. His primary assignment on earth was to accomplish our salvation. That assignment was now completed and, when He rose to Heaven, He entered into His new “job” of intercessor for the saints. He has called us to pray as part of the Father’s overall plan to be like His Son. As the unique God/man Jesus is the One who knows the heart and will of the Father and also the needs and struggles of mankind. This puts Him in the most unique role to intercede for us as His followers.
The final thing I will mention here that took place that day as our accession with Him. As surely as Scripture says that we died with Christ, were buried with Him, and united with Him in His resurrection, it also says that we have ascended with Him and are now “seated with Christ in Heavenly places.” This day changes everything about how we can and ought to live each day. We do not need to live this life as though this life is all there is. Because of our place in Heaven and in Christ right now, we get to take on His perspective of life. We don’t have to limit our perspective to this world. We get to see things and respond to situations in an “other-worldly” manner, because, in some mysterious but very real way, we are there now.
So, as we consider this day, I invite you to join me as I worship the exalted Christ, recommit myself to obey His command to disciple, thank Him for His wonderful prayers for my life, and view life from His perspective more than my perspective. And look at the big smile on Jesus’ face!
Thank you, Tychicus
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Ascension Day
“Today” is the day Jesus…
- Ascended to His Fathers right hand.
- Charged His followers to be His witnesses.
- Gave His disciples His last earthly blessing.
- Gave people as gifts to His church.
- We took our place seated with Him in heavenly places.
- Was welcomed back into Heaven as the victorious Savior. “Well done…” The long trip was finally over.
- Eternal fellowship between Jesus and the Father was restored.
- Entered into His pre-incarnate glory.
- Sat down at His Father’s right hand and His enemies became His footstool.
- Began His ministry of intercession for the saints.
And His disciples
- Watched in awe as He ascended.
- Obeyed Him by going to the upper room to pray.
Ps 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
Matt 26:64 “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 16:19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
Luke 20:42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ‘
Luke 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven
John 16:5 “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
John 17:1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you… 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Acts 1:9-11 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “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 2:33-35 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ‘
Acts 5:31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
Acts 7:56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Eph 1:20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way
Phil 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Col 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
1 Tim 3:16 Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Heb 8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
Heb 10:12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.