Ascension Day is on Thursday, May 9 in 2024. This is the day Christians commemorate the ascension of Jesus into heaven as described in the gospel of Luke and Acts.
Scripture about Christ’s Ascension
And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God. Luke 24: 51-53, NASB
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11, NASB
(Jesus talking to Mary when He first appears to her after His resurrection) Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ” John 20:17, NASB
Quotes about Christ’s Ascension
“At His Ascension our Lord entered Heaven, and He keeps the door open for humanity to enter.”
Oswald Chambers
“The ascension reminds us that Christianity is not only an historical faith, but a faith of the present and future. Jesus is, right now, in glorified humanity on the throne of the universe, wielding as the God-man “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). He is not just our suffering servant who came and died and rose triumphant, but our actively ruling, actively conquering king.” David Mathis
“He controls all things for the church, and therefore you can face the world with peace in your heart . . . he’s at the right hand of God as the executive director of history, directing everything for the benefit of the church. If you belong to him, then everything that happens ultimately happens for you.” Timothy Keller
“When Christians discuss the life of Jesus, they usually are thinking of the period from his birth in Bethlehem to his resurrection from the dead following the crucifixion at Calvary. This life lasted about thirty-three years—in the our Gospels. There is, however, a further heavenly life of Jesus, beginning with the Ascension, which will last forever.” Peter Toon, The Ascension of Our Lord
“When you went to bed last night Jesus was at work subduing his enemies. While you slept he was continuing to rule over the world. He was still at it when you woke up this morning and even now as you read this. That is the outrageous claim of the ascension.”
Tim Chester & Jonny Woodrow
4 Ideas to Commemorate the Ascension with your Kids
- Cloud gazing: Go outside with a picnic blanket (bonus points if you actually have a picnic) and lay on the ground and look at the clouds together. Talk about how Jesus ascended into heaven in front of a bunch of his friends. Ask them what they think that was like. What do you think it looked like for Jesus to ascend into the clouds? Do you think the weather was like it is today? How do you think his friends felt? Remind them that though his friends were sad that day, Jesus promised it was better for him to leave so that He could send His Holy Spirit!
- Baked goods: Make these fluffer-nutter cookies (honestly, my absolute favorite) or rice-krispy treats (for our PB allergic friends!) and talk about how the marshmallows are kind of like clouds, and when we think about the clouds in the sky we remember how Jesus ascended into heaven.
- “Ascension” science experiment: Try your hand at this tea-bag rocket experiment. Talk about how the tea bag floating into the sky reminds us about how Jesus ascended into heaven. Pro-tip: A windy day is not your friend for this activity. You can try inside your garage (obviously be careful!)
- Puffy Paint Clouds: Make a puffy paint cloud craft and talk about how Jesus ascended into heaven.
3 Ideas to Commemorate with your friends or coworkers
- Baked goods: Make these fluffer-nutter cookies (honestly, my absolute favorite) or rice-krispy treats (for our PB allergic friends!) or another marshmallow dessert you love and hand them out to friends or coworkers with these little Ascension Day tags attached.
- Share a meal: Go out to eat or host a dinner and throw out the question Why does Christ’s ascension into heaven matter? Why does it matter theologically but also personally for you?
- Make a small “May Day Bouquet”: Throw a little bouquet together of all white flowers– tulips, lilies, carnations, hydrangeas, daisies, babies breath, whatever. Hand out at work or where you live.
Be bold and brave and hand your baked goods or bouquets out to friends who don’t know the Lord yet! If they ask what it’s all about you can simply say, “This is the day Christians commemorate the day Jesus ascended into heaven after his death, burial, and resurrection. He spent 40 days appearing to over 500 people and then went back up into heaven.” Keep it simple! If they want to know more, they’ll ask.
A final note: I can’t post this blog without acknowledging Barbara Rainey, who’s blog I have looked to for years to help me celebrate days like Ascension Day, Pentecost, and more. She is my inspiration!
