![]() But Jesus knew that his time on earth was up, and it was time for the Holy Spirit to move. Pentecost couldn’t have happened without the Ascension: The disciples wanted Jesus to stay forever. Instead, the Spirit meets them in a shut-up room in the middle of prayer.ģ. We would probably prefer the event to include a full pyrotechnics display. God moves unexpectedly: If we’d made up the story, we’d probably have the Holy Spirit meet the disciples in the middle of Jerusalem. Patience is important: You’d think Christ would immediately gift the Holy Spirit the moment he entered the clouds. One builds on the other, and the lessons we can learn from one also inform what we can learn about the other.ġ. We need to see these two holidays in view of one another. It was the first day of the early church. And ten days after the Ascension, the Holy Spirit rested on their heads like tongues of fire. The Holy Spirit didn’t descend immediately when the disciples returned to Jerusalem. We often can’t talk about Ascension Day without first addressing the holiday of Pentecost, which takes place 50 days after Easter Sunday. What Church Holiday Comes After Ascension Day? We can imagine that on the Sunday leading up to Ascension that many churches probably also have a reading included in the service about Christ’s ascension into heaven. Sometimes fruit can be seen at feasts-as Christ had ushered in the first fruits of his church through the apostles.Ĭloudy pastries filled with cream may also be seen as Jesus had ascended into the clouds and out of view for the disciples.Īctivities for the day have ranged from chasing crickets to spotting cloud patterns in the sky, differing from church to church, parish to parish. ![]() The tradition can span beyond just the walls of Europe, but it appears to originate there. Jesus “flew” into heaven, so the food symbolizes the upward flight. ![]() The practice harkens back to a medieval tradition. It’s also important to mention that even the churches that celebrate Ascension Day may differ in how they eat and celebrate Christ’s Ascension.Ĭertain European churches will eat fowl and birds of all kinds. Low church traditions tend to celebrate bigger holidays, such as Christmas, Easter, and sometimes Lent. It should probably be no surprise that high church traditions typically celebrate Ascension Day feasts. Since we now know the importance of Ascension Day and when it happens, how do certain churches celebrate it? How Is Ascension Day Celebrated? You’ll notice that the date often falls in May, but it depends on when Easter occurs in a calendar year. ![]() When Is Ascension Day on the Church Calendar?Īscension Day tends to fall 40 days after Easter because the Bible states Jesus met with people for 40 days after his resurrection ( Acts 1:3).įor 2023, Ascension Day will take place on May 18. Now, Christians remember his work on earth, the salvation he has given us, and his promise to return. He is now seated at the right hand of the father. He was a humble servant of the Lord on earth, willing to suffer-yes, even death on the cross. When Israel repeatedly broke that law, Jesus came to earth to be the atonement for humanity’s sin.Īnd now, the Holy Spirit can live in people’s hearts, allowing many more to come into salvation.Īs mentioned in a article, Ascension Day marks a transition for Christ. God the Father creates and establishes the law for Israel. Every person in the Trinity plays a great role in the Biblical narrative. Jesus knew the next step would be to step aside and allow the Holy Spirit to participate in Pentecost. He had also died, rose on the third day, and met with people for 40 days. During that period, he gathered several followers and preached about salvation. Jesus had completed a three-year ministry on earth. We’d touched on this above, but in the church calendar, Ascension Day is the remembrance of Jesus’ ascension into heaven. In today’s article, we’ll explore Ascension Day, how certain churches celebrate it, and why it ultimately matters to Christianity as a whole. It marks the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth and the beginning of ours. Forty days after resurrection Sunday, Jesus left his disciples with a charge in Matthew 28: to go into all nations-preaching the good news of Christ.Īnd right after that, Jesus ascended into heaven.
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