God Mounts His Throne to Shouts of Joy
Ascension of the Lord – Year C
Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47:2–3, 6–9; Ephesians 1:17–23 (or Hebrews 9:24–28, 10:19–23); Luke 24:46–53
Luke ends his Gospel and begins the Acts of the Apostles with the same event—the Ascension of Christ into heaven. For forty days before this moment, Jesus instructed His disciples about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), and explained to them the core of the Christian message: the death and resurrection of the Savior of the world (Luke 24:46). Then He sent them out to proclaim to all nations “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 24:47).
According to Paul (1 Cor. 15:5–7), Jesus appeared to His disciples in the following order. First on the list is Peter. Sadly, we do not know when or how this meeting occurred. Then Jesus revealed Himself to the Twelve. Shaken by His death, they needed a personal encounter with the Risen One to believe that the news of His resurrection was more than a rumor (John 20:18). After that, the risen Christ appeared to over five hundred brothers—perhaps the group that joined the eleven disciples who met Him in Galilee (Matt. 28:16–17).
An encounter between Jesus and His brother James (Gal. 1:19) is described in the non-canonical Gospel to the Hebrews. James had sworn not to eat until he saw the risen Christ. After the resurrection, Jesus came to him and said: “My brother, eat your bread, for the Son of Man is risen from those who are asleep.” Finally, Christ appeared to all the apostles.
The Jerusalem Cross, or five-fold cross, is a symbol rich in meaning. The central cross represents the Holy City as the center of the world, while the four smaller crosses point to the four directions of the earth. Before His ascension, Jesus commissions His disciples to be His witnesses—beginning in Jerusalem and extending to the ends of the earth. The Gospel is for all people—even the inhospitable Samaritans who had once refused to receive Jesus because He was heading to Jerusalem (Luke 9:53). The proclamation that began in Jerusalem now stretches to the four corners of the earth.
“A cloud hid Jesus from their sight” (Acts 1:9). What happened behind that cloud? As the Psalmist says: “God mounts His throne to shouts of joy” (Ps. 47:6). Christ’s arrival at the gates of heaven is announced by the angels who accompanied Him during His earthly journey: “Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in” (Ps. 24:7).
Surprisingly, the gates do not open immediately. A question echoes through heaven: “Who is this King of Glory?” (Ps. 24:8). The angels guarding the gates do not recognize Him. How can this be? Because the One who left them was the eternal Word, but the One who returns is the Word made flesh—now bearing the marks of the cross in His glorified body. Again the question is asked: “Who is this King of Glory?” And the answer resounds: “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle; the Lord of Hosts—He is the King of Glory” (Ps. 24:8, 10). Then the ancient doors swing open before Christ.
The risen Christ ascends to heaven to intercede for us (Heb. 9:24). The Father of Glory places His Son at His right hand and puts all things beneath His feet (Eph. 1:17–23). Jesus has opened for us “a new and living way” (Heb. 10:20) that leads to the Father. Our redeemed and transformed humanity now sits at the right hand of God—forever united to the eternal Word.