The facts of the Ascension and Session are first of all stated (1:3) with all that this implies of definite position and authority (1:4-13). It is important for Christian belief because it shows that Jesus' humanity was taken into Heaven. The New Testament passages referring to the Ascension need close study and their teaching careful observation. The biblical event found in Acts 1:1-11 of the Holy Bible, describes how the disciples witnessed Jesus as He 'Ascended into Heaven'. This is the basic meaning of the Ascension--he returned to heaven, to the angels, to the glory he had before the foundation of the world (John 17). Luke–Acts, a single work from the same anonymous author, provides the only original narrative account of the ascension. Ascension is a wonderful process that will lead to radical changes in the way you think, act, and interact with others. You will find the Biblical accounts of the Ascension in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:6-11. May 14, 2015. ‘On Ascension Day children take part in a ‘cricket hunt’ in the city's largest park.’ ‘I did some Maths; then I went out to church, because it is in fact Ascension Day.’ ‘Conceived by Antony Noghès, and always held on the weekend following Ascension Day, the Monaco Grand Prix is the most famous race on the Grand Prix calendar and last year celebrated its 50th F1 Grand Prix.’ Nothing is recorded of the actual Ascension, but 1 John 2:1 says that "we have an Advocate with the Father." This session at God's right hand is also said to be with a view to His return to earth when His enemies will have become His footstool (10:12,13), and one of the last exhortations bids believers to look unto Jesus as the Author and Perfecter of faith who has "sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (12:2). The Ascension is alluded to in several passages in the Gospels in the course of our Lord's earthly ministry (Luke 9:31,51; John 6:62; 7:33; 12:32; 14:12,28; 16:5,10,17,28; 20:17). The act or process of ascending; ascent. It was a change of conditions and mode of existence; the essential fact is that He departed and disappeared. As Westcott says, "The modern conception of Christ, pleading in heaven His passion, `offering His blood,' on behalf of man, has no foundation in this epistle" (Hebrews, 230). A. ; Assumption of Moses; M. R. James, "Testament of Abraham" TS, II, 2, 1892; Martensen, Christian Dogmatics. And yet it is not merely local, and "we have to think less of a transition from one locality than of a transition from one condition to another. If with most modern scholars we regard Mark's Gospel as ending with 16:8, it will be seen to stop short at the resurrection, though the present ending speaks of Christ being received up into heaven, of His sitting at the right hand of God, and of His working with the disciples as they went preaching the word (Mark 16:19,20). Bibliography Information The chief point of the epistle itself is said to be "such a high priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" (8:1), and His position there implies that He has obtained eternal redemption for His people and is appearing before God on their behalf (9:12,24). Should we ‘Hate the sin and love the sinner’? Ascension in the true sense of the word does not literally translate to one’s physical body being raised up or lifted off the ground flying through the air to arrive in heaven. Oxford University Press, USA. And Hort similarly remarks, "The words, `Still .... His prevailing death He pleads' have no apostolic warrant, and cannot even be reconciled with apostolic doctrine" (Life and Letters, II, 213). [15] The apocryphal text known as the Apocryphon of James describes the teachings of Jesus to James and Peter 550 days after the resurrection, but before the ascension. Ehrman, Bart. [6], From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, This article is about the Feast of the Ascension. The emphasis placed on the second advent of Christ in 1Th is an assumption of the fact of the Ascension. However, as with all spiritual changes, there may be some discomfort along the way. There is no presentation, or representation, or pleading, of Himself, for His intercession is never associated with any such relation to the sacrifice of Calvary.