Ascension Day 2017

shared by Nick and Diana Laninga

Today marks Ascension Day, the fortieth day of Easter. It would be good to reflect on the importance of this day with some appropriate text, verse and song as Christ returned to heaven.

“And He led them as far as Bethany, and He lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while He blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven” [Luke 24: 50-51].

W.H. Griffith Thomas rightly claims that the ascension is not only a great historical fact of the New Testament, but a great factor in the life of Christ and Christians, since it marked the consummation of His redemptive work. What a fitting climax was expressed when He ascended not a single promise was unfulfilled.

As J Oswald Sanders states “ He left His own in the very act of blessing. For this He had come, and blessing He departed, not as a condemning judge but as a compassionate friend and High Priest, with hands outstretched.”

Golden harps are sounding,
Angel voices sing,
Pearly gates are opened,
Opened for the King;
Christ, the King of glory,
Jesus, King of love Is gone up in triumph
To His throne above.
~F.R. HAVERGAL. [Author of “Take my life and let it be.”

Christ’s redemptive work is complete—the incarnation, crucifixion, and the ascension was a complete and final demonstration that His atonement had forever solved the problem of man’s sin.

If the Christ who had died had stopped at the cross, His work had been incomplete,
If the Christ that was buried had stayed in the tomb, He had only known defeat.
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross, and the way of the tomb leads on
To victorious grace in the heavenly place where the risen Lord has gone.
~Poem by ANNIE JOHNSON FLINT. [Author of “He giveth more grace”]

The gift of the Holy Spirit was dependent on His glorification.”The Holy Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified
John7:39.

Now the comforter has come and abides with us.
The Lord ascendeth up on high,
The Lord hath triumphed gloriously,
In power and might excelling;
The grave and hell are captive led,
Lo He returns, our glorious Head,
To His eternal dwelling.

The heavens with joy receive their LORD,
By saints, by angel hosts adored; O day of exultation!
O earth, adore thy glorious King! His rising, His ascension sing with grateful adoration.
Our great High Priest has gone before, Now on His church His grace to pour,
And still His love He giveth;
O may our hearts to Him ascend, may all within us upward tend
To Him who ever liveth.
~ARTHUR TOZER RUSSEL.

Why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.
MARANATHA !!!

Please read song 291 in the Trinity Hymnal”:
SEE, THE CONQUEROR MOUNTS IN TRIUMPH”

Have a blessed Ascension Day. The Laningas