Christ is not like earthly priests, who inevitably die. Jesus “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” And unlike the sinful, mortal priests of the Old Testament, the Lord Jesus is “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:23–27).

Ascension is so important to the biblical narrative that Luke tells the story not once, but twice (Luke 24:13–27; Acts 1:6–11). As strange as someone ascending into heaven seems to us, it is not a foreign concept to the religions of the world. A Jewish tradition held that Moses ascended, and Islam teaches that Muhammad was, for a time, taken up into heaven.

Christ’s ascension is very different from these stories. Whereas the other ascension stories mark important moments in the lives of those men, Christ’s ascension begins an entirely new era of human history.

Even though believers live in this new era, many Christians don’t consider how Christ’s ascension should build their faith and shape their lives. As we gather to worship, consider these three ways we can honor Jesus as the ascended Christ.

1.Listen to the ascended Christ as your prophet.

As our ascended Prophet, Jesus declares his law and gospel through the ministry of the preached word. God spoke through “the prophets in many times and in many ways” (Hebrews 1:1), and Jesus Christ is a prophet greater than Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15–19). Consider how the apostle Paul links Christ’s ascension with his word.

But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:6-9)

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