How many realised last Thursday was the day the Church celebrates the Ascension of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

When I was a child I could take a couple of hours of school, if I wanted to, to attend the Parish Church to celebrate this event. Now, apart from some Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Orthodox believers I doubt many even think about The Ascension.

Yet Jesus made it clear that unless he returned to the Father the gift of the Holy Spirit would not be made available to all believers. That is how important this day is.

When I was younger, Pentecostals would often spend the ten days between The Ascension and Whitsun in fasting and prayer to receive the Holy Spirit or a greater anointing.

Why? Because Jesus said, (Acts 1) that the disciples were to wait until they had been immersed in the Holy Spirit before they were to witness as to who Jesus is.

The disciples didn’t know what to expect, but they had no doubt it was the Holy Spirit, when he came and immersed them. Others may have thought they were drunk with too much wine, but they knew better.

It is easy to overlook that they paid a price for their experience. They joined together constantly in prayer. And it was not just a dozen chosen men, but others along with them who seemingly had the same experience.

Of course Jesus’s ascension doesn’t only mean he makes the Holy Spirit available to ordinary believers. Heb 7:25 says he is able to save completely because he lives to intercede for them. Isn’t that great?