How Does Jesus’ Ascension Benefit Us?

Point to Consider: How Does Jesus’ Ascension Benefit Us?

John 16:6-7 “6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.”

As we see in this passage, Jesus’ departure was beneficial for us. This is because only after Jesus departed would He send the Comforter to us. The Comforter is the Spirit of truth (John 15:26). Since He is the holy “Spirit,” He is not bound by place or time, and He can always be with us.

John 4:20-24 “20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship... 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

Therefore, we are never alone, and we can always be with the Spirit of truth, who has come in the name of Jesus.

Another reason Jesus’ ascension is beneficial for us is that He said He was going to prepare a place where we would be with Him forever.

John 14:1-3 “1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. 2In 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. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

In this way, Jesus had a clear purpose in going away, and that purpose was to prepare an eternal dwelling place where we would be with Him. Therefore, Jesus’ ascension is certainly beneficial for us. Also, Jesus’ ascension is a clear promise of His coming again (Acts 1:10-11). Because Jesus will soon come again according to His promise, we must not lose our faith in Jesus until the end. Rather, as the days go by, our hearts should long for Jesus all the more earnestly.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “16For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

2 Peter 3:11-13 “11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Amen.