![]() The Ascension gave people the conclusion that people needed. Jesus didn’t just ride off into the sunset like an old cowboy movie. With the Ascension, he taught them that he was leaving Earth to prepare a place for them. His believers were a little lost, and he returned to help prepare them for what would come next. Jesus spent 40 days giving his disciples and other believers his final lessons. It’s almost as if they think he just went off and wandered the Earth for the rest of his life-or perhaps still wanders the Earth. A lot of people don’t even know he ascended to heaven. I ask people every now and then what happened after Jesus rose from the dead. ![]() A short time later Augustine of Hippo, one of the most highly regarded early church fathers, speaks of it in a way that makes it clear that it has been an observance for quite some time. ![]() The reference, however, was a small one and it’s disputed that it even refers to a celebration. He turned out book after book of church history. In fact, the first reference to any sort of celebration came hundreds of years later in the 4th century by Eusebius.Įusebius, if you didn’t know, was the Howard Zinn of his day he’s frequently called the Father of Church History. But what about after? Was this a day that disciples and followers would continue to celebrate? Perhaps, but there are no Biblical indications that this was the case. Obviously, Jesus returning to heaven would mark the first Ascension Day. Unfortunately, little is know about Ascension Day in terms of when it all began. Every great celebration day has an epic origin story-like it was started as a counter-celebration to some pagan holiday.
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