He Ascended Into Heaven [Paperback]

The simplicity of this book ends with its title. The reader is compelled by the authors, Tim and Aaron Perry, to examine the significance of the ascension of Christ, both as necessary for our understanding of the reign of Christ in the lives of Christians, and as validation of His being given "all authority in heaven and on earth" Matthew 28:18.
The authors primarily use Luke's gospel and his book of the Acts of the Apostles to draw the reader into exploring the idea summed up in their statement that "resurrection is the beginning of ascension; ascension is resurrection completed ". I've looked at Christ's life many times, but, after the resurrection scene played out, and I was walking out of the theater, what was I missing on the screen behind me - the credits or Jesus' life's great final act of triumph, the ascension?
The book presents a view of Christ's life that may require two readings to just scratch the surface of how this can affect our daily lives. The first time through, keep at the back of your mind the question "could this be possible?" The second time through, bring the words in front of your eyes like a magnifying glass over each chapter "could this be possible!!!"
Each chapter is followed by questions to stimulate personal reflection and application. However, since this is such a new way to filter our understanding of life events, even rethinking events in our past, I would instead recommend this for a study group. What the authors call ascension living is best learned and lived in community. The challenge presented to us by Aaron and Tim Perry is to decide to live this reality after our study, and not simply nod our heads in appreciation of increased knowledge about Christ.

Just finished reading this well-organized and well-written book. "He Ascended into Heaven" puts the usually neglected ascension story on center-stage. The insights found within the book are weightier than its page count.

The ascension account(s) of Luke do seem strange to us and provoke a lot of questions (where did Jesus go? why was it better than he left? why couldn't he stay AND invite the Spirit?). If you're just looking for finely packaged answers to such questions, you will likely be disappointed by this book. The authors are more interested in applying the truth of ascension to our Christian lives than filling in all the blanks (though they do get us thinking along the right lines for such things, I think).

Rather than summarize the books chapters (you may as well just read it), I'll tell you what the book did for me. Over the years I've gone through phases of emphasis in thinking about my Savior, Jesus. As a child I was awed by his miracles. Then, for years, I emphasized the cross. Then the resurrection. The his teaching. Incarnation took center stage for a while. At each point of emphasis, I did not necessarily learn something new about Jesus... but I learned something important in a fresh new way... a way that was more profound, impacting, and life-altering.

But the ascension had never had its turn until now! I appreciate what Tim & Aaron Perry have done here. I knew Jesus was Lord, of course, but focusing on the actual account of the ascension, and re-reading the other aspects of Jesus' life with ascension in mind does indeed bring that truth into greater focus. The implications are far reaching and the book does a good job at pointing us in the right direction.

Tim and Aaron Perry have just written a wonderful and thought provoking book on the place of the ascension in our understanding and practice of the Christian faith. In the opening chapter of the book, the author writes, "We only know and understand the Ascension when we are owned by the ascended Jesus" (4). That is to say that those who Jesus as Lord, as dying, rising, and ascending are those who will care to follow the path of an ascension shaped life. The ascension seems to be in church and in seminary a doctrinal statement tacked onto the creeds without much explanation. Yet, as the authors indicate, it is integral to Luke's narrative and to the shaping of our lives. How? For one, the ascension if fueled with the idea of divine victory (16). The authors make a startling statement by saying, "The birth of a baby is the decisive and ultimately victorious act of God" (17). We usually think that the death and resurrection are God's final declaration of victory over the powers of evil. Yet, I think the authors have something to stand on with God's word coming to Mary in Luke 1. The very birth of Jesus is the long awaited promise that creation will be restored and evil will not go unpunished but we be dealt with in a final way. Yet, the birth of Jesus was not just hope for Israel but hope for all people.

Chapter 3 is a very good presentation of the meaning of the death of Jesus and its connection to the ascension. "The Cross re-arranges the world from its deepest foundations up. The Ascension is the announcement that the rearrangement has begun" (32). The message of the cross is foolisness to those who claim to be wise because it involves the unjust suffering of Jesus who in his suffering proclaimed life for sinners. The ascension is the completion of the the work on the cross by proclaiming that death and power have been defeated. The Ascension is the proclamation that Jesus is Lord through his death, resurrection, and ascension.

Lastly, I thought the chapter on Confession was superb. The authors indicate that when we recite creedal words we are not just blindly speaking our belief. There is much more at stake here in the creedeal confession. Rather, "we are performing in a similar way," "The confession is a pledge of life and practice of this pledge to the one who ascended" (60). Rather than empty words or worldview assertions, the confession of the creed that Jesus ascended is one of making ultimate allegiance with none other than Christ. Making public what is private was the act in which Thomas and many Christian matyrs have said of their faith. The very act of Thomas' jubilation 'My Lord, My God' was not one of final belief but one of good news.

This book is very helpful in helping all Christians understand the Ascension and its biblical basis but also see it as integral to our Christian practice. Whether its looking at our allegiances more closely or treating the creation in a more biblical way, the Ascension should cause us to worship King Jesus all the more. This book is a great way forward in our understanding of how Christian doctrine and teaching are not for the ivory tower but for the world.

Thanks to Paraclete Press for the review copy.