With Ascension Day often overlooked, a theological case argues the gospel’s “royal” justice message depends on Jesus’ ascent.
Ascension Day—observed by Western Christian churches on May 14 this year—gets far less attention than the season’s better-known milestones. even as the day’s meaning goes to the heart of the Christian story.. In this context. the theme of Jesus’ ascension is presented as more than a spiritual afterthought: it is framed as the missing closure that completes the gospel narrative and preserves its “royal” message. not just its promise of personal salvation.
Traditionally. the Christian year is filled with vivid markers. from Advent’s calendars and wreaths to Christmas carols. ivy. and gift exchange. and from Epiphany’s king cakes and magi to Lent’s fasts. sobriety. and silence.. Holy Week adds its own familiar scenes—Palm Sunday’s processions and Holy Saturday’s vigils and bonfires—while Easter stands out with lilies and new clothes.. Even Pentecost has a visual signature, with many celebrating in Spirit-fire red.. By contrast. the report argues that whatever practices once accompanied Ascension Day have been abandoned by many churches. leaving the observance to pass “without a word. ” and often without a worship service.
The theological argument is straightforward: without the ascension, the biblical arc lacks closure.. Jesus’ death is treated not as an end point but as the event that “vanquished sin and Satan. ” after which the ascent becomes the next essential movement in the story.. The piece points to the hymn “See the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph” by Christopher Wordsworth—identified as the nephew of the Romantic poet—as an attempt to capture the breadth of what Ascension Day signifies. describing the ascent as a procession into a heavenly palace and the beginning of reign.
In the hymn’s imagery as echoed in the report, Ascension Day is portrayed as a kingly accession.. Jesus is depicted as entering heaven’s sanctuary and throne after victory. moving through scenes meant to convey blessing. translation. inheritance. and divine arrival.. The narrative draws parallels to biblical moments such as Aaron raising his hands in blessing. Enoch being translated to an “everlasting home. ” Joshua entering Canaan. and Elijah’s fiery chariot—elements used to suggest that the ascension is not a vague spiritual notion but a concrete. triumphant transition.
The report further contends that neglect of the day doesn’t merely omit a celebration; it distorts how the gospel itself is understood.. It highlights the view attributed to Joshua Jipp in Christ Is King: Paul’s Royal Ideology. arguing that the apostle Paul’s “good news” is essentially a proclamation about Jesus the King—his identity as the Son of David by flesh and his proclamation as Son of God through resurrection.. In that framing, the gospel is presented as royal announcement, marking not only resurrection but also ascent to a throne.
This emphasis on kingship is described as the organizing structure of New Testament theology “from start to finish.” The report depicts Jesus’ reign as “totalizing. ” meaning it claims supremacy. power. benefactions. and justice without rivals.. It also rejects the idea that Christ’s authority can be placed in opposition to earthly rulers as if Jesus reigns only where human authority ends.. Instead. the argument is that Christ’s reign encompasses authority across heaven and earth. folding it into a larger royal scope rather than competing with it in a limited sphere.
Turning to the Old Testament, the piece connects kingship to Torah: kings are portrayed as lovers of God’s instruction.. It then asserts that Jesus goes further. presented as the “living Torah. ” who transforms the law of Moses into the “law of Christ.” The report links this to obedience. describing Jesus’ perfect fulfillment of Torah and the claim that self-sacrifice becomes the supreme act of neighbor-love.. It adds that Jesus’ Spirit-empowerment enables believers to follow the pattern of Torah-keeping. and that those who are “united” to the living Torah fulfill what the law requires.
The argument ties this royal gospel to justice in a way that is meant to be more than metaphor.. According to the report. a gospel of kingship is also a gospel of justice. and Romans is treated as a key document of that theme.. It cites the frequency of dik– (“just-”) terms in Romans and points to God’s dikaiosune—often translated as righteousness or justice—as introduced in Romans’ theme verses.. From there. the report describes Paul’s warnings about wrath in Romans 1–2 as royal action: judgment against injustice carried out by the risen King.
The piece portrays Romans as a courtroom drama in which all humanity stands accused—Jews and Gentiles alike “under sin”—with the righteous exception reserved for Jesus.. It argues that the exaltation of Jesus unveils God’s justice as the means by which the injustice of the cross is overturned: humanity condemned Jesus. and cannot be saved unless the executed King is acknowledged and enthroned.. In this view. God must do justice by raising and placing the King on the throne. from which the risen Christ enforces the Father’s justice.
It then frames Paul’s role as herald of this royal message. describing an effort to bring about “the obedience of faith” among all nations.. The report explains that the language of obedience connects to the broader command at the heart of Israel’s faith—“Hear. O Israel”—and suggests that Paul’s preaching is meant to open Gentile ears so that Gentile mouths can confess Israel’s God.. It concludes the chain with a summary attributed to Jipp: the substance of God’s justice is the resurrection of the royal son and the enthronement that gives powerful lordship over the nations.
Without Ascension Day being honored. the report warns. the gospel risks being reduced to a private message about eternal life. one that may have little public or communal significance.. By contrast. when the ascension is given its proper place. the gospel is framed as public truth—a political message in the broadest sense. presented as decisive for both nations and individuals.. The overall claim is that Jesus’ ascension makes the “royal Conqueror” message unavoidable. anchoring Christianity not just in hope. but in an announced reign meant to shape how people understand justice. authority. and faith.
Ascension Day Christian year gospel message Jesus kingship biblical theology Romans justice Pentecost
never even heard of ascension day tbh
So they’re saying Ascension Day is important now? I thought Easter covered it.
Wait so they literally removed this from the church calendar?? I went to catholic school my whole life and nobody ever told us about this I feel like the church just keeps hiding things from regular people and then wonders why nobody shows up on sundays anymore.
I think this is honestly why so many younger people are leaving Christianity altogether because nobody explains any of this stuff and then you get these big fancy articles talking about lost gospels and royal messages and its like ok but what does that even mean for somebody sitting in a pew on a normal sunday morning you know what I mean. My grandma used to do something special around this time of year I forget what it was but she always made a big deal of late May and now I realize maybe that was related to this whole thing. Either way the church dropped the ball big time on keeping these traditions alive and now some writer has to explain it in a news article.
Not gonna lie I never hear about Ascension Day at all. Like it’s always Christmas, Easter, Pentecost… then crickets. Maybe churches really just forgot it?
ok but this is basically just saying jesus floated up to heaven and somehow thats connected to like politics and kings?? I read the whole thing twice and I still dont get why they call it a royal message, like Jesus wasnt a king he was a carpenter thats literally the whole point of the story, he was humble. sounds like somebody is trying to mix religion with government again and we all know how that ends up.
Isn’t Ascension Day like when Jesus went up and then the whole “royal justice” thing starts? Kinda confusing though bc I’ve heard a bunch of stuff about salvation but not “royal” justice. Also why would they lose practices—did people just stop doing bonfires or whatever? Feels like the article is blaming modern churches for ancient traditions.
This makes it sound like if you don’t celebrate Ascension Day the gospel gets incomplete, which is… a lot. Like okay, but what about all the people who don’t go to church, do they just miss the whole point? And why is it always “western churches” too, like other places don’t count? I’m just saying I’ve never seen a king cake for Ascension Day or anything, so maybe it really did get dropped.