Last week, on 10 May, Christians celebrated Ascension Day.
For many years, this day was a religious public holiday. But over time, many of these days have been removed from our list of public holidays. In the USA, UK and South Africa, Ascension Day is no longer a public holiday. In fact, most churches don’t even have a service on this day.
Maybe, just for interest, you’ll allow me to share a few thoughts about this. In the New Testament there are no specific holy days to be celebrated. Christmas and Easter, for example, were not celebrated in the New Testament times or even in early church. But Ascension Day was one of the first days celebrated by the church, from as early as about 68 AD.
We made up Christmas, Easter and Ascension Day. Does that mean that remembering, even celebrating these days is wrong? No!
The key purpose of celebrating a day is to remember an event.
So at Christmas we remember and re-tell the story of Christ’s birth. At Easter, we remind ourselves of Christ’s death and resurrection. Last week we were reminded of Christ’s ascension into heaven and His promise to return.
The day is not holy, but the event is worth remembering. So is the story behind it.
Today hundreds of millions of Christians still pray for the return of Jesus Christ.
Are you ready for that day?
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