Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May 16/58

Contributor - Henry J. Boekhoven

Title - The Ascension of Christ

Topic - Ascension

I would be pleased to make just few marginal notes on the event in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ, which is commonly called: the Ascension of Christ. This however is not so easy, since we cannot very well discuss this historical event. On one hand we know Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, on the other hand, it is known, he has been taken up. Even St. Augustine considered this a difficult doctrine to discuss: "the Church discusses it, since it does not want to be silent", are his words.

Writing these words, does not mean that I question the Ascension of the Head of the Church on the contrary, I firmly believe that He ascended into heaven; but the difficulty lies in the duality: risen and taken up. In deepest we got to regard the Ascension of Jesus Christ a historical fact in the history of the Church beyond human comprehension. Yet we desire to write a few words on this fact.

We meet Christ in the days between Resurrection and Pentecost. Christ is not the same as before the Victory over death and sin; the work is "finished" and as yet He did not depart from this earth. We meet Him on the road to Emmaus discussing with two of His disciples what happened in Jerusalem, entering with them the house in Emmaus, blessing "and their eyes were opened and they recognized. Him - and He vanished out of their sight." We meet Him among His disciples in Jerusalem, "but they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit" and after some discussions He led them out to Bethany and "He blessed them" and "parted from them", "while He blessed them", Departure here reveals the reality of Christ's divine being; the Master reveals Himself and in unexpectedly leaving His disciples He appears before them as He is: God.

The Heidelberg, Catechism brings to our attention that Christ not only ascended into Heaven, but at the same time also was taken up from this earth. He ascended and was taken up. Christ acted and at the same time was object of activity. We cannot very well understand this, unless we accept this as a mysterious divine act, worked by the Trinity. The Trinity revealed into us a perfect co-operation. The Bible does not know how to explain this and uses a terminology, that shows on one hand the divinity of Christ and on the other His being regarded divine, not only Christ acted, but also His Father. We must draw the incomprehensible conclusion that the Triune God acted. God did not deny the Unity in His own divine Being, but on the contrary stressed the point of One-ness.

No wonder, that consequently Pentecost was the conclusion of the Ascension. The Creator did not want mankind left orphans after the completion of the work of Recreation. In the Ascension (Christ ascended - and taken up) we discover the continuing divine care on God's side for the fallen man, sanctified in Christ. In Christ man is taken up and in the fact of His ascension lies the promise of man's ascension. The Holy Spirit brings about the understanding of this great historical fact: the Ascension and makes man believe his ascension in Christ.

The co-operation in God is a mystery, even more mysterious since the eternal God acted in the history of the time, as He has regularly done in the entire work of redemption - Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost. God made man a witness of His divine activity to save man.

The Ascension of Christ a mystery, yes, but it brings joy to the believer, since it reveals unto him, that there is a unity in God, and a co-operation within the Trinity and it is for this unique co-operation that man is saved. "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses....... to the end of the earth."

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