THE ASCENSION OF JESUS

The Acts of the Apostles records the Ascension of Christ in a simple declarative sentence: “No

sooner had He [Jesus] said this than He was lifted up before their eyes in a cloud which took Him from their sight.” Our church celebrates this event of Christ’s glorification with joy. The words of the Kondak of the Feast explain the meaning of this event: “After fulfilling for us your plan of redemption and joining the things of earth with those of heaven 0 Christ our God, You gloriously ascended without abandoning us, but remained with us forever and reassured all who love You by telling them: Behold, I am with you; no one has power against you.”

The icon of the Ascension presents us with a visual account of this event. It celebrates the meaning of this event for the church and the world. The figure of Christ ascending in glory is surrounded by a circular nimbus composed of various bands of color, symbolic of the heavens. The nimbus itself is supported by angels whose presence is yet another indication of the glory and divinity of Christ. It recalls the Old Testament image of God enthroned upon the Cherubim.

Jesus is exalted in glory. He joins heaven and earth. He restores the human race and all creation

to the Father. He sits at the right hand of the Father and fulfills his priestly ministry of

interceding in our behalf. Christ is with the Father and with us. He joins heaven and earth. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. He raises His hand in blessing and we look up to Him knowing that He has already won our salvation. He is with the Father and He remains with us.

The Ascension is the crown of His earthly mission. Christ has accomplished on earth the entire

mission which He received from the Father. He sits at the right hand of the Father and shares in His Glory. The Ascension marks the Father’s acceptance of the Son’s whole work of redemption and the restoration of the human race and all creation to the Father. Jesus will not leave us orphans. He blesses us, and through Him we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the risen and glorified Lord Jesus, God will send His Holy Spirit, like the Apostles we return to the Upper Room praising God and praying for the Gift of the Holy Spirit to come upon us. Jesus ascends with an act of blessing, and we adore Christ as He ascends to the Father. We are filled with joy and with power. A new power which comes from this adoration of the Lord Jesus,

and we, like the Apostles, will be filled with great joy and hope.

Reprinted with permission from Awakening Our Treasures; published at the Sower, Stamford, Ct.