Friday, May 18, 2012

Seventh Sunday of Easter: Jesus Is Ascended



We know that there is a 50 day period between the Resurrection of Jesus and Pentecost.  Scripture tells us that Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after His resurrection (Acts 1:3).  That is why Ascension Day is always celebrated on a Thursday 10 days before Pentecost Sunday.  Most Christians these days, although clearly aware of Easter, may only be vaguely aware of Pentecost Sunday, but most likely will pass right by Ascension Day without any thought about it.  But for Jesus' earliest followers, the Ascension was of utmost importance.

Author and Regent College professor Darrell Johnson discusses the importance of ascension in the following three videos.  Watch these videos during this 10 day period between the Ascension and Pentecost.  Also the Global Day of Prayer has a great 10 Day Prayer Guide for use on the 10 days beginning on Ascension Day (May 17) and ending the day before Pentecost (May 26th).  I encourage us to pray these prayers each day.

The Ascension and the Church

 

The Ascension and the Lord's Supper

 

The Ascension and Jesus Christ






1 comment:

penman@originalgospel.org said...

You are right that most Christians are not very aware of Pentecost.

Pentecost is interesting in that it was kept by ancient Israel, as Feast of Weeks or Feast of First Fruits, as well as mainstream Christian churches today. It helps us understand that the Church is only the small harvest of souls, the first fruits, not the main harvest to come, as I show in my article.