Please Don’t Forget Thursday!

Why is Thursday so important you ask? No, it is not a public holiday, and I don’t know of anyone famous who has a birthday on the 13th. And for most people it will be just another ordinary Thursday at work, school or home.  So what’s the big deal?

Here is the reason why; on the 13th of May we should remember, celebrate, be in awe of one of the greatest events in the history of the world. On this day we remember Jesus ascending into heaven as King (see Luke 24:50-53, Acts 1:9-11). Back when I was a kid I remember churches would still speak about this day and even have worship services celebrating it.

But I imagine if you ask most church goers today or even pastors what is the 13th of May you will get a blank stare or “I have no idea!” Most followers still celebrate Christmas, Easter, and a few even Pentecost, but Ascension Day has almost vanished in most Christian circles.

Maybe it is a barometer of deeper issues plaguing the church today. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an over the top liturgical celebration guy and If I wasn’t a pastor I might have missed Ascension day as well. But it is what the day represents that we need to desperately need to rediscover in our day and be reminded of every day, Jesus is now KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

I understand why our world is being controlled and paralyzed by fear which satan loves to propagate by any means he can. But because Jesus left this earth 40 days after His resurrection and went to take His throne at the right hand of the Father His followers should overflow with a victorious faith.  The disciple John got a glimpse of what our Warrior King looks like right now in Revelation 19:11-16:

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the One sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For He judges fairly and then goes to war. His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns…He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. From His mouth came a sharp sword, and with it He struck down the nations. He ruled them with an iron rod, and He trod the winepress of the fierce wrath of Almighty God. And on His robe and thigh was written this title: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Ascension day reminds us that Jesus is this Revelation 19 King right now and His reign will take over every nation, tribe, and people group on this plant. Everyone born will bend the knee to His glorious rule and reign when He comes again in the same way He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11).

Ascension Day also confronts me with the question is He my warrior King and will I give up everything to ride with Him? You see Ascension Day preaches there is only ONE King, the perfect God/Man Jesus and this Glorious King demands all my heart. Maybe that is why Ascension Day has been conveniently hidden away in our culture where self is preached as king.

In these unsettling days the church needs to once again wake up to the powerful truths and blessings of seeing Jesus at this very moment as the KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS!

So mark Ascension Day on your calendar and perhaps together we can both daily celebrate Christ the Ascended King. Alleluia! Amen!