What Happened to the Ascension?
(Asking for a Friend.)
You’ve got to feel a little bad for the Ascension.
Easter Sunday? Fireworks. Full sanctuaries. Sunrise services. Brunch reservations. Instagram grids exploding with "He is Risen" and pastel blazers.
But forty days later—Jesus literally levitates into heaven before witnesses—and what do we get?
Maybe a passing mention.
Maybe a shrug.
Maybe nothing at all.
It’s like throwing the biggest comeback party in history and then ghosting on your way out of town.
Why We Forget (And Why It Matters)
I get it.
Resurrection feels like a Hollywood ending.
Victory over death! Redemption sealed! High fives all around!
But the Ascension is what actually ties the whole thing together. It’s the moment where Jesus doesn't just conquer the grave—He takes His rightful place in glory, securing our future not just on Earth but for eternity.
The Ascension says,
"I didn’t just save you. I’m preparing a place for you."
"I didn’t just meet you in the mess. I’m leading you beyond it."
It’s the cosmic mic drop.
And somehow, we treat it like the credits rolling after the good part of the movie.
More Than Rescue
In The Jacked Up Life, I wrote:
“Sometimes we think the goal is just surviving the wreckage.
But God’s plan has always been bigger than restoration—it’s resurrection and elevation.
Grace doesn’t just lift you out of shame. It seats you with Christ in the heavenlies.”
(See Ephesians 2:6 if you want the receipts.)
The Ascension reminds us: you weren’t just rescued—you were raised.
Not to wander aimlessly, but to reign with Him.
Not to patch your old life together, but to live a brand-new one fueled by hope bigger than your scars.
The Ascension says your life isn’t just about surviving sin or surviving setbacks.
It’s about thriving under the power of the One who’s already gone before you.
A (Gentle) Word to the Church
I’m not here to throw shade on your Easter lilies or your church’s excellent pancake brunch.
(Seriously, God bless the man flipping pancakes in the fellowship hall.)
But maybe we need to linger a little longer in the post-resurrection story.
Maybe we need to celebrate not just the empty tomb, but the occupied throne.
Maybe we need to remember:
The Ascension wasn’t Jesus checking out.
It was Jesus checking in to reign over everything we can’t fix, can’t control, and can’t carry alone.
For Your Jacked Up Life Today
If you’re walking through a season where life feels half-finished...
If the victories seem short-lived and the messes feel permanent...
Remember this:
You’re not just forgiven.
You’re raised.
You’re seated.
You’re secure.
The Ascension wasn’t the anticlimax.
It was the upgrade.
And it’s a promise that even when life down here feels jacked up, you have a future that’s already anchored up there.
P.S. If you haven’t yet committed to getting your copy of The Jacked Up Life, May 1st is almost here. Do yourself a favor (and me one as well) and step into a story where grace lifts you higher than guilt, fear, or shame ever could.
P.P.S. Let’s hear it for the Ascension—the most underrated exit strategy in history.
—Michael
Excellent! What insight and TRUTH! Thank you. 😊