“After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘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.'” — Acts 1:9–11 (BSB)
“He exerted this power in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” — Ephesians 1:20–23 (BSB)
“Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.” — Hebrews 7:25 (BSB)
“Who is there to condemn us? For Christ Jesus, who died, and more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.” — Romans 8:34 (BSB)
The Book of Common Prayer celebrates the Ascension in the Collect for Ascension Day: “Almighty God… exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless…” The Ascension declares that Jesus is Lord not only of the Church but of all creation. As St. Paul teaches, He has been seated “far above all rule and authority” (Ephesians 1:21), ruling even now until all enemies are made His footstool.
The Ascension also assures us that Jesus continually intercedes for His people. He is not distant but acts as our Advocate before the Father. Hebrews 7:25 assures us that He “always lives to intercede” for those who draw near to God. His ongoing priestly work is the foundation of the believer’s assurance. Anglican liturgy echoes this in the Eucharistic Prayer: “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where he ever lives to make intercession for us.”
Moreover, Christ’s Ascension secures our future with Him. As Article IV of the Thirty-Nine Articles says: “Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again His body… with which he ascended into heaven.” The same risen and ascended Lord will one day return to judge the living and the dead. The angels at His ascension made this promise: “This same Jesus… will come back in the same way you have seen Him go” (Acts 1:11).
For the believer, the Ascension means that our true citizenship is now in heaven, and our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1–3). Anglican Bishop Handley Moule once wrote: “The Ascension is the grandest act in the drama of redemption, crowning all the rest.” Christ’s lifting up draws our hearts upward, reminding us to live not for this world, but for the one where Christ reigns in glory.
Chrysostom underscores that Christ’s Ascension elevates human nature to heavenly glory.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “Although He departed from our eyes, yet we must believe in Him who is absent from our sight but present in our hearts.” — Sermon 264
Augustine emphasizes faith in Christ’s continuing presence and intercession despite His physical departure.
St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461 AD) preached: “The Ascension of Christ is our elevation; hope for the body is also invited to where the Head has preceded in glory.” — Sermon 1 on the Ascension
Leo explains that Christ’s Ascension is the promise of the believer’s future glorification.
St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604 AD) reflected: “He who ascended alone shall come again with many… and as He ascended in the sight of His disciples, so shall He return.” — Homilies on the Gospels, 29
Gregory links the Ascension directly to the Second Coming, giving believers hope and watchfulness.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) taught: “Jesus, having finished His race, ascended into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of the Father, not as God—for He always was—but as man, that He might uplift mankind into the heavenly kingdom.” — Catechetical Lectures, 14.27
Cyril stresses that the Ascension exalts redeemed humanity in Christ, who is both God and man.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
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