He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. – Acts 1:9
People don’t talk much about one significant event of Jesus’ life—His ascension. We know it happened, but many of us aren’t sure of its significance. But when Jesus went from earth back to heaven, a link occurred that was very important.
The ascension was important because it fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy that He would return to His Father: “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father” (John 16:28). Jesus’ physical body was taken into heaven. This is important because in John 14:2 He promised that He would go to prepare a place for us in heaven. We know that He went, so we can trust that He is preparing a place for us right now. Because He went somewhere, we have somewhere to go.
The ascension accomplished something for every Christian: It established that we are all enthroned above the angelic realm. Man was made lower than the angels, but Jesus in His ascension elevates redeemed man to a position high above the angels. Ephesians 2:6 is clear: God “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” We are identified with Christ, and by virtue of our identification, we are positioned with Him as well.
Through Christ we also have authority in heaven and on the earth. He commands us to go into the world and make disciples in His name in the authority of the Spirit. When we understand our position, we will understand the power that’s made available to us.
Everything that belongs to Christ belongs to us. That’s a powerful fact!