About the Ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven

The event of Ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven is described very detailed in the first chapter of the Book of Acts, that is found in the New Testament. I wrote this article to give answers to some question that many people ask concerning this event and what the Scripture says about it.

When did Jesus Christ ascend to heaven?

The Book of Acts begins with this event and it communicates the time. The evangelist Luke writes so:

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. (The Book of Acts 1:1–3)(NASB)

The Ascension of the Lord Jesus took place in forty days after His crucifixion. That’s why, we, all Christians have greeted each other with “Christ has risen!” since Easter until the event of Ascension. Since Ascension we greet each other “Christ has ascended!” for 10 days. In ten days we celebrate the Descent of the Holy Spirit on earth.

How did the Ascension of Jesus Christ take place?

It is better to read the biblical passage that presents this event detailed:

Gathering them (the apostles) together, He (Jesus) commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (The Book of Acts 1:4–11)(NASB)

Who were the witnesses of the Ascension of Jesus Christ?

Every event should have eye-witnesses, so that it may be believed. And it is much more important when something supernatural happens, as was the event of Ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven. The Word of God names the witnesses at the event and It says:

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (The Book of Acts 1:12–14)(NASB)

Why did Jesus Christ ascend to heaven?

The passage from the Book of Acts doesn’t relate us this, but the Lord Jesus, when He was still on the earth said that He was going to go to His Father and why He would do it. When He prepared the disciples for His soon coming crucifixion, the Lord Jesus told them:

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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. (The Gospel of John 14:1–3)(NASB)

Another reason why Jesus Christ had to go is that He might send the Holy Spirit to the disciple, and He said so:

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (The Gospel of John 16:7)(NASB)

The Holy Spirit is called the Helper by Jesus Christ, because He was going to be and is a help for all Christians who have Him, in all circumstances of life.

How do you benefit from the Ascension of Jesus Christ?

As Jesus Christ said, He went to prepare a place for us in heaven. Do you want to have a place there too and to spend the eternity with the Lord Jesus in the heaven of God? Do you know how to get into God’s Kingdom?

When the Lord Jesus was talking to His disciples that He was going to go to His Father, Apostle Thomas told Him:

“Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (The Gospel of John 14:5–6)(NASB)

Receive Jesus Christ in your heart so that you may inherit heaven with Him.

Translated by Felicia Djugostran