why was the ascension of jesus so pivotal

Answer 1

The ascension of Jesus is considered pivotal for several reasons:

1. Completion of His earthly mission: The ascension marked the completion of Jesus' mission on Earth, which was to bring salvation to humanity through His life, death, and resurrection. It demonstrated that His work was accomplished and testified to His victory over sin and death.

2. Affirmation of His divinity: The ascension affirmed Jesus' divine nature and His exaltation to the right hand of God. It showed that Jesus is not merely a human prophet or teacher but the Son of God, deserving of worship and obedience.

3. Fulfillment of biblical prophecies: The ascension fulfilled several prophecies from the Old Testament, such as Psalm 110:1 which foretold that the Messiah would be seated at the right hand of God.

4. Activation of the Holy Spirit: Before ascending, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples. The ascension allowed for the fulfillment of this promise, as the disciples received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit empowered them to continue Jesus' mission, spread the gospel, and establish the early Christian church.

5. Focus on the heavenly realm: The ascension shifted the focus of believers from the physical presence of Jesus to the spiritual realm. It emphasized the need for faith and reliance on the Holy Spirit rather than relying on Jesus' physical presence for guidance and support.

Overall, the ascension of Jesus holds immense significance in the Christian faith as it represents the completion of His mission, affirmation of His divinity, fulfillment of prophecies, activation of the Holy Spirit, and shift in focus to the heavenly realm.