ascension – Upper Room Media Blogs

The Proposal of Christ

Adapted from a sermon by Fr Mark Basily

One of the most unforgettable days in someone’s life is the day they either proposed or were proposed to. Whether good or bad, yes or no, it’s still unforgettable. The words used on the day are ingrained in your mind.

The reason why it is such a significant day is that it is a transitionary point in your life. It marks the official transition from a relationship heading preparation for a wedding and on to marriage.

On that day, there is so much love, so much hope for what it will become, and so much faith in each other.

The Jews had a different process, they didn’t get down on one knee. The process would begin when the man would bring a gift to the girl which would mark the covenant. If she accepted the gift, it was done. He then says, “I’m going to go prepare a place for you. When it’s ready I will come back and take you with me to that place and we will be there together.”

After he said this, he would leave to build an extension to his father’s house for him and his new bride. This would take approximately one year to prepare and build. The father would then determine the right time and he would go in a procession to bring his bride back to his father’s home.

What we read in the gospel of John in the last supper discourse sounds, Christ frames His departure in very similar fashion;

“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know” – John 14:2-3.

In essence, this was a Jewish proposal – a transition point in the relationship of Christ and the disciples. This was now heading toward a marriage.

He stays on earth for 40 days after His resurrection, until the Ascension. The ascension we celebrate this coming week. The Ascension is major event that gets overlooked midweek, between the Resurrection and the Pentecost.

Why did Christ stay for 40 days? Why this particular number of days, why couldn’t He remain of Earth forever? If you read through scripture, every time the number 40 is used, it is a transitionary moment.

During the time of Noah, they remained in the Arc for 40 days and 40 nights. When Moses takes the Israelites out of Egypt, they wonder in the desert for 40 years searching for the Promised Land. A transitionary point in the history of Israel from being in the bondage of slavery to being heirs of God’s people in their own land.

Before Jesus begins His ministry, He spends 40 days and 40 nights in the desert where He was tempted by the devil. A transitionary point from which He would begin His public ministry and miracles.

Here, we have the Ascension that takes place 40 days after the Crucifixion. This was a transitionary moment for the disciples. From fear to courage, from not understanding who Christ was or what He was saying to being able to fully comprehend His divinity and preparing for the marriage feast that was to come.

After His ascension, we read, “And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52)

This is a strange reaction to a loved one leaving. If you really loved someone, you would not be joyful at their departure. Why were the disciples so joyful at the ascension of Christ? Because the proposal is now coming into effect.

They remembered the words of Christ, I will go to prepare a place and when it’s ready, I will take you with Me.

They were joyful to see Him leave so that when He returned, they would be going with Him. Just like the bride is joyful when her groom leaves to prepare a place for her, the disciples can say goodbye to Christ with joy. It was joy in anticipation of what is to come. They spend the next nine days waiting for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. How did they spend those nine days?

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” – Acts 1:14

In prayer and supplication, they waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

We today, hear these words of Christ as though Christ is on one knee proposing to you, and saying, “I am going to My Father house to prepare a place for you and then I will come again and receive you to Myself that where I am, you may be also.”

On the day of Ascension, we celebrate the day He leaves to prepare that place as a transitionary moment in our lives, looking toward eternity. We ought to return to our lives with joy for we wait in hope of His return when we will be with Him. We live joyful in prayer, preparing for wedding that is to come. We live in this hope, in this faith, and in this love.

? Full sermon ?

The Glorious Feast of the Ascension

By: Fr Matthew Attia

On Thursday, 25 may the Church will celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven, 40 days following His Glorious Resurrection.

The Ascension = Confirms the Divinity of Christ

Christ said, “I came forth from the Father. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.” (John 16:28). Some 3000 years ago, Solomon the wise King asked, “Who ascended to heaven and descended?” (Proverbs 30:4). The only Person who could answer this puzzle was Jesus Christ, who said to Nicodemus, “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.” (John 3:13). Jesus, by His ascension, proved that He is heavenly and of heavenly origin and after He accomplished redemption, He went again to His royal and divine residence in heaven. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has come to reveal the hidden mystery of Christ and that He is equal to God the Father and without the Holy Spirit, no one can say that Jesus is Lord.” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

The Ascension = Prepares me to Receive the Holy Spirit

Christ said, “I will not leave you orphans, I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever. He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 16). Before the ascension, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you.” But the means of having this peace is through the Holy Spirit. This might be well explained by St. Cyril of Alexandria when he said, “Everything is from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension = Prepares for me a Heavenly Place

Christ said, “Let not your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am there you will be also.” (John 14:1-3). Moreover, Christ said, “Do not fear little flock for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:32). St. Paul reminds us, “For our citizenship is in heaven.” (Philippians 3:20). “For God has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:16). Thus we labour and strive diligently in order to hear the words of Jesus, “Come you that are blessed by My Father, come inherit the Kingdom.” (Matthew 25:34).

The Ascension = Directs my Heart, Mind and Life to Heaven

“If then you were raised with Christ,” says St. Paul, “seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:5). “Lay hold on to eternal life,” writes St. Paul to Timothy, “to which you were called.” (1 Timothy 6:12). Let us therefore sow in the Spirit that we may reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7-8).

The Ascension = Reminds me of the Second Coming of Christ

“This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven.” Said the angels to the disciples, “will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11). “Behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:12-13). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10).

The Ascension = Restoration and Glorification

Christ is preparing a heavenly place for us, and the Holy Spirit is preparing us to inherit that heavenly place with Christ. Therefore, as in marriage, the Holy Spirit is uniting the bride and the groom together, similarly in this eternal love relation, the Holy Spirit is uniting Christ and with the faithful soul that He loved and redeemed with His blood.” (Revelation 1:5). The Ascension was the final act of the earthly mission of Christ. It represented the ultimate restoration and glorification of humanity; its being enthroned at the right hand of the Father in the realm of Divine existence known as heaven. Christ and all humanity in Him were accepted into the life of the Holy Trinity (Ephesians 1:20).

The Ascension = My Spiritual Ascendency

The spiritual life, as Pope Shenouda reminds us, is a perpetual ascendancy towards God the Father. St. Peter urges us to, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” (2 Peter 3:18). He also says, “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful.” (2 Peter 1:5-8).

Wishing you a blessed and joyous Feast of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven, remembering the words of our Saviour, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” (Matthew 6:33). May you always feel and see “a door standing open in heaven.” (Revelation 4:1).