HIS ASCENSION, YOUR EMPOWERMENT!

WORD FROM THE CENTER: MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2025

Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections on His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s reading is Acts 1:7-11 which begins with Jesus telling His disciples,

“It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

HIS ASCENSION, YOUR EMPOWERMENT!

I want to do something different today. Instead of focusing on one of the lessons that was read in many Sunday services yesterday, I’m going to speak to you about an event commemorated by churches worldwide THIS PAST THURSDAY. Yes, Thursday. Forty days after Easter many Christians celebrate the Feast of Jesus’ Ascension. It is a day where people who believe in Jesus celebrate the fact that Jesus, the one who lived, died, and rose again from the dead, also ascended into heaven and took His proper position at the right hand of God the Father which gives Him power over the universe. Yes, the crucified one is the one who is coming again to judge both the living and the dead. Why? Because He is the one who lived, died, rose and then ascended for all so that all might live in Him.

 That’s all part of the Ascension Day proclamation. But there’s more! And this should be an even greater wonder. Jesus “went away,” as it were, so that you and I could be even more blessed. What? Yes, that’s what I said. Actually, it’s what Jesus said. In John 16:7 he declares, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” Ephesians 4:8 says that Jesus ascended so that He could pour out His gifts to people. Yes, Jesus’ ascension is a declaration of the power and the position of Jesus over all things. But it is also a wonderful declaration that the ascended Jesus has indeed unleashed the Holy Spirit as His comforting, advocating gift to us. He has empowered us with His Word to bless us and to share with others. He has not left us powerless, but more powerful than ever before because the Jesus who walked this earth, who died on the cross, and who rose again is now in His ascended position of power so that, by the presence of His Spirit, He can be with us in ways that are even closer than a brother (see Romans 8:10-11).

 Ascension Day is not just an event in history that leaves us praising Jesus in awesome wonder. It’s also a day to reflect on the fact that even the Ascension is something that Jesus did FOR US. He ascended so that we could be empowered by His enduring presence, empowered by His gift of the Holy Spirit, and empowered to wield His Word in all its fullness to others so that they might be blessed by Him too. That’s ascension, empowerment, and living life to its fullest in Christ and for others. Let the celebration continue!

 PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, give us a sense of awe and wonder to realize that Your ascension into heaven is also for our blessing and good, both now and forever. AMEN

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