Defying Gravity!

What gives the song Defying Gravity a universal connection is the overall idea of letting go of society's expectations and just being yourself. The song has become a self-esteem anthem for millions around the world. However, the song merely reflects the idea of leaving the influences of others behind, in order to experience personal independence.

Following his resurrection, Jesus literally defied gravity – He left earth. Christians refer to this experience as the ascension of Jesus. Five times New Testament writers employ the Greek term analambano (to take up) of Jesus’ ascension. Each time the verb is in the passive voice, He “was taken up.” The passive voice represents the subject of the verb as being acted upon. Thus, in this instance, indicating that the taking up was empowered from above.

Like me, you are probably asking, can someone really believe in ascension in our scientific age? Could one really believe that Jesus was literally “taken-up” from earth? Assuming Jesus was not ascended as reported by Luke in Acts 1:9, we are left with a few difficult historical questions – Then, when did his ministry come to an end? Or, how come, in documenting the history of the church in Acts, there is no record of Jesus’ movements. In addition, no post-resurrection corpse of Jesus was ever found.

In post-resurrection New Testament passages, Stephen, Paul and John claimed to have encountered Jesus. But none of them provided geographical locations where they met. At no point in sacred or secular history does any historian refer to Jesus in terms of His physical location. Following His alleged resurrection, someone must account for His absence from the tomb and from anywhere on earth. The best account for his absence is his ascension, as recorded in the book of Acts.

Like His death and resurrection, the ascension of Jesus was predicted. A thousand years before His birth, David prophesied the ascension of the Messiah when he announced the Lord’s enthronement at the Father’s right hand (Psa.110:1).

In this Psalm, David says, “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool’”. Jesus quotes this verse in a discussion with the Pharisees to prove that the Messiah is more than David’s son (Matt. 22:44). He is David’s Lord. Interestingly, no other psalm is so frequently quoted in the New Testament.

Like the Psalmist, Jesus predicted His own ascension. In announcing his death to his disciples, He promised to go and prepare a place. Such a mission necessitated leaving earth. It was shortly after making that promise, Jesus said, “it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you...” (John 16:7).

Luke contends, just after instructing the disciples to wait in Jerusalem, “Jesus was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts 1:9).

This year, Ascension Day, one of the earliest Christian festivals, will be observed on Thursday, May 10. It is observed as a public holiday in many countries. Interestingly, it is celebrated 40 days after Resurrection Sunday – consistent with the ascension of Jesus, 40 days after his resurrection.

The theological implications from the historic ascension of Jesus are massive. Questions like, where did Jesus go, or, where is Jesus now, cannot be avoided. In addition, he accurately predicted his death, his resurrection and his ascension. He also predicted his return – could that be the next big story? With such a successful track record of accurate predictions, it would seem foolish to conclude that his return is unlikely.

Without his ascension, a conversation about his return would be mere wishful thinking. It would then seem prudent to follow the admonition of the angels that were present at his ascension – “this same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 2:11).

It was because of his confidence in the return of Jesus, Paul said in his last letter to young Timothy, there is a reward “also, to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Whatever your theological position regarding the timing of Jesus’ return, what is certain, there will be a defying of gravity, in order to be with him.