Ascension Day
The Triumph of Christ
Bishop Ray R. Sutton 

Ascension Day celebrates the complete triumph of Christ.  It is part of the total package of the Cross.  At the Cross, Jesus paid the debt of sin resulting in the spiritual death of our first parents in the garden.  The Resurrection overcame death, removed its sting and brought forth the victory of the Cross for the whole world to see. 

Importantly, however, the Cross and the Resurrection would not have been completed without the Ascension.  For, the Ascension took the victory of the Cross and the Resurrection to heaven.  Jesus was able to do two things that had never happened. 

First, Jesus was able to be enthroned.  His ascension is an enthronement as King.  What had He become King of?  He had become King of the entire universe.  Prior to the Incarnation, the Son of God had been the Creator of the world but He had never ruled.  His rule had been short-circuited by the fall of humanity into sin.  And Satan interrupted the process of the Son of God’s enthronement.  Before Christ could rule as king He had to unseat Satan, which is what happened at the Cross.  Christ had to display His victory, that is declare it to the world through the Resurrection.  But then He had to take His rightful place on the throne of heaven.  The Ascension is the celebration of the enthronement of our King, which means He is the only King.

By definition there can only be one throne if there is a king.  One throne, one king, that’s what the Ascension tells us.  And the early Christians understood this.  That’s why they walked away from their false religions into the arms of Christ.  You see, because there can be no other king, the Ascension is the triumph of Christ as the only way to God.  Practically speaking, this means that Christianity is the one true religion.  If the Ascension is the triumph of Christ, then He is all there is.  Contrary to popular modern views, all religions are not equal.  It doesn’t mean that they have nothing to offer, nor does it mean that God will not help those get to heaven who truly want to.  Rather it does mean to use C. S. Lewis’ example, that all religions are going the same way on the mountain and they are going away from the true God.  Only Christianity takes us to Christ who is the one and only true king.

Second, the triumph of Christ is the triumph of Christians.  When Christ ascended into heaven He paved the way for all those who would believe in Him.  And for all of those who had already died as Old Testament believers and waited in the words of the Gospel in “Abraham’s Bosom” (Luke 16:22), He took them on into heaven with them.  In the words of the Te Deum, He opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.  In the language of the New Testament lesson assigned for Morning Prayer on Ascension Day, “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.  (Now that he ascended, what is it that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things)” Ephesians 4:8-9).

And what does this mean that we triumph with Christ?  I love the introductory verses assigned for Morning Prayer during the Ascension: “Seeing that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).  I don’t know how carefully you heard the reality of this wonderful verse but the triumph of Christ that is a triumph for Christians means we get to have access boldly to come to the throne of grace.  We get to go right up to the throne and request grace for all of our needs.

And where is the throne of God?  It’s in heaven.  But in the Eucharist the line between heaven and earth is blurred.  We get to go to heaven in the Eucharist.  We receive literally a taste of heaven.  And all of this means we get to approach the throne of God.  The historic church viewed the altar as Christ’s throne, for He takes seat among us as the Host at the Holy Communion.  He who led captivity captive is seated on the altar throne.  And we are allowed to make special requests.  That’s why in the rubrics of the service of Holy Communion before the prayer for the Whole State of Christ’s Church we find, “Here the Priest may ask the secret intercessions of the congregation for any who have desired the prayers of the Church” (p. 74).  We do this through our bulletins and announcements.  And we should take these requests at the Eucharist(s) very seriously.  For Jesus does.  And He takes them to His heart because of the Ascension where He triumphed as well as secured access for us to come boldly into His presence.  Therefore, let us come boldly to Christ with our needs.  Let us seek His grace.  And let us believe that He will give His grace in time of need because of the great victories secured on this day nearly two thousand years ago. Amen.