January 18, 2026
Sometimes, Christians wonder why Jesus ascended to heaven instead of remaining on earth. After all, wouldn’t it be easier to prove who he is and that he rose from the dead if he were still here to show people the holes in his hands and feet and the wound in his side?
From a Christological perspective, Jesus ascends to the Father because the throne of heaven and earth is at his right hand. From there, Jesus not only rules as Lord and King but also intercedes for us as our great High Priest.
From a pneumatological perspective, we arrive at a different answer. In Acts, Peter says:
Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing (Acts 2:33).
Similarly, in today’s reading, Jesus says:
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you (John 16:7).
In short, unless Jesus ascends to the Father, we don’t receive the Holy Spirit. And notice that Jesus says the coming of the Helper after he goes away is to our advantage. How can that be? Peter gives us a big clue.
Before the Ascension, the Holy Spirit, which he received at his baptism, dwelled only within Jesus. Now the Holy Spirit has been poured out on everyone who is in Christ. We might call this the democratization of the Holy Spirit. This is why it is to your advantage that Jesus ascended to the Father. If he hadn’t, you would never have received the Holy Spirit, and it is by the Holy Spirit that we become children of God (Rom 8:14) and enjoy his countless spiritual gifts.