My lecturer in seminary, the eminent theologian, Dr Simon Chan, used to say that among contemporary evangelicals, the idea of Christ’s Ascension is often neglected. It is seen as an optional extra to what Christ came to accomplish.
Yet, biblically speaking, while there aren’t many explicit descriptions of the event, the NT is rich with indirect references to it.[1] In fact, “He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” is part of our weekly proclamation. We even have a Sunday dedicated to the Ascension.[2] So why does it hardly feature in our consciousness? Perhaps we simply don’t understand the why of the Ascension.
What follows expands on the first of three reasons why the Ascension matters for you and me. The other two will be considered more fully at a CE class on 2 November 2025 – or perhaps in future Pastoral Perspectives).[3]
The Ascension is the enthronement of Jesus as King.
Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God. In fact, when he start his ministry and ‘began to preach’, the summation of his message was as follows: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17). Likewise, after he resurrected and appeared, this pattern continued. He continued ‘speaking about the kingdom of God’ (Acts 1:3). This royal mission on earth was only completed when Jesus, who ‘came from the Father’ had returned to the Father (John 16:28).
But why is that so?
In the Scripture, Jesus’ Ascension is his enthronement. While the NT doesn’t explicitly use the (Greek) word for ‘enthrone’, it describes the Ascension in ways that clearly imply enthronement.
For example, the Ascension is often described as the exaltation of Jesus.[4] Just as God exalted David as King over his enemies (2 Samuel 22:49) and “established him as king over Israel” (1 Chronicles 14:2), so God “hashighly exalted him [Jesus] and bestowed on himthe name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9).
Further, it is described as an exaltation to God’s right hand (Acts 5:31). When we think ‘right hand’ of someone, we think of the person as a subordinate, as a ‘right-hand man’. However, in the Scriptures, the ‘right hand of God’ denotes ultimate authority and power not of subordination. Psalm 110:1, the most cited OT verse in the NT, pictures the Father saying to the Son, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Apostles pick up on Jesus’s use of the Psalm 110,[5] and echo the same idea: God has “seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:20-21).[6] In Jesus’ words, ‘I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne’ (Revelation 3:31). Jesus is on the throne!
Why does this matter?
This matters because this is the heart of the apostolic proclamation of the gospel! The gospel includes the message of personal salvation that Jesus died to save you and me.
But the gospel isn’t merely personal.
It has cosmic implications.
It is universal news.
It is the message that Jesus has conquered and he is on the throne! This was what the Apostles proclaimed. With Roman political forces breathing down their necks, the Apostles refused to shrink back. Instead they proclaimed: ‘God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified’ (Peter in Acts 2:36). Or ‘Jesus is Lord’ (Paul in Romans 10:9 and 1 Corinthians 12:3). This was nothing short of a politically charged statement: Jesus is Lord, not any pretender on the Roman throne. When we preach let us preach with boldness because Jesus is on the throne!
Yet this doesn’t matter merely for our evangelism but also for our discipleship.
As a thought experiment, if a group of Christians, whom you knew and loved personally, were severely persecuted, how would you help them? Would you give them Christian counselling for their emotional trauma? Would you give them wise political strategies to navigate life under political persecution? These are both good things to do. But what is the one thing they need?
For the Apostle John, they need to know that Jesus is on the throne!
For the recipients of the Book of Revelation, the world that they were surrounded by drilled into them the notion that they were the scum of the nations.
They were treated like they were on the wrong side of history.
But God’s revelation to John showed them that they were on the right side of history because they were on the side of King Jesus.
‘From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.’ (Revelation 19:15-16)
Their oppressors were the ones who ought to be afraid.
In our journey of discipleship to Jesus, we face many obstacles.
Some may seem insurmountable.
Let us take heart.
Jesus is on the throne!
To close, we’ve considered how the Ascension is the enthronement of Jesus as King.
God-willing, in the future, we will consider the following:
(2) The Ascension and Pentecost – how the Ascension fulfils Jesus’ role as royal mediator of the New Covenant, through whom the covenant blessing of the Spirit descends.
(3) The Ascension and Session – how the Ascension begins the Kingly ministry of Jesus in heaven for his Body.
[1] Lk 24:51; Ac 1:2, 9, 11, 22; 1 Ti 3:16; Jn 13:3, 33; 14:28; 16:5–6, 10, 17, 28; Eph 4:8; Mt 26:64; Jn 6:62; 17:24; Ac 2:33–34; 3:21; 5:31; 1 Pe 3:21–22; Ac 7:56; 13:30–37; Eph 4:8–10; Php 1:23; 2:9; 3:20; Col 3:1; 1 Th 1:10; 4:14–16; 1 Ti 3:16; Heb 2:9; 4:14; 6:19–20; 7:26; 9:24; 10:12–13; 12:2; Rev 1:13; 5:6; 14:14; 19:11–16; 22:1
[2] This was on 1 June this year, during which Ps Kien Seng preach on Acts 1 and the Ascension – remember?
[3] In the second half of the year, there will be a 4-part CE series on the Apostles Creed on Sunday afternoons (3 Aug, 7 Sep, 5 Oct and 2 Nov). We will cover up to ‘He will come to judge the living and the dead.’ And continue next year. The meaning of the Ascension will be considered more fully on 2 Nov.
[4] Is. 52:13; Acts 2:33; 5:31; Phil. 2:9; Heb. 7:26
[5] So important is this saying of Jesus that it is included in all synoptic gospels: Mt 22:41–46; Mk 12:35–37; Lk 20:41–44
[6] The Ascension is the fulfilment of Ps 2:6 (“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill”).
