Christian Festivals: Ascension (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

The meaning and significance of Ascension

• Ascension means “to go up” or ascend

• The Ascension is celebrated by Christians 40 days after Easter, which is the festival that marks the resurrection of Jesus

• According to the Bible, after Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, he spent time with the apostles

  • During this period, he told them that God would send down the Holy Spirit to them, just as he had promised

• The final time Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection is referred to as the Ascension

• At the Ascension, Jesus returned to the Father in heaven

blockquote “He left them and was taken up into heaven” (Luke 24:51)

• The significance of the Ascension for Christians is that it:

  • Shows that the work of redemption was complete and that reconciliation between God and humanity had been achieved through Jesus
  • Proves Jesus is divine and shares fully in the glory of God
  • Marks the end of Jesus’s time on earth and the start of the disciples’ mission to spread the gospel in his name
  • Prepares them for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
  • Encourages believers to remain faithful and have hope that they will also join Jesus and the Father in heaven

Customs of the Ascension

• Common customs Christians use to mark the Ascension include:

  • Church services and hymns focused on the theme of Jesus’s glory and kingship

  • Lighting of candles to symbolise Christ rising to heaven

    • In the Catholic and Anglican churches, the Paschal (Easter) candle is extinguished on Ascension Day to show that Christ is no longer just risen but is now glorified in heaven

  • In some churches, a statue or image of Christ is raised or removed to symbolise the Ascension

  • Bible readings retelling the Ascension story are shared

  • In some countries, Ascension Day is a public holiday, and outdoor services or processions take place

  • Some Christians start a novena (nine days of prayer) on Ascension Day, leading up to Pentecost

Religious reasons for observing Ascension

• Christians observe the Ascension to remember and reflect upon Jesus’s return to heaven at the end of his time on earth

• Christians believe that the Ascension is a time:

  • To celebrate that Jesus **completed the work of redemption **and that reconciliation between God and humanity had been achieved
  • To celebrate Jesus’s authority and place with God the Father in heaven for eternity
  • To focus on hope and the** promise of Christ’s return** and their own future in heaven
  • To prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
  • When Christians think about their own role in spreading the gospel in the world, as Jesus had asked of them in the teaching known as the Great Commission:

blockquote “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)

Social significance of observing the Ascension

• Like all Christian festivals, the Ascension brings Christians together in shared worship and community reflection
• It encourages believers to think about their mission and purpose in the world
• It helps Christian communities mark the end of Easter and prepare for Pentecost
• Some schools and churches hold Ascension assemblies or open-air services, which promote Christian values and help children to learn more about their faith

Different ways of observing Ascension

• Catholic and Anglican churches may hold a Mass or Holy Communion service with hymns, Bible readings about the Ascension and even a procession

• Orthodox Christians also have a Divine Liturgy and readings about the Ascension. They may display icons of the Ascension

  • Some Orthodox Christians take part in an all-night vigil

• Protestant Christians may not have a set liturgy for the Ascension, but some may hold services at which sermons are preached about Jesus’s divine authority and promise to return

Worked Example State two features of Christian celebrations of the Ascension

[2 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

One feature is lighted candles [1 mark]

Another feature is Bible readings retelling the story of Jesus’s Ascension [1 mark]

Exam Hint Remember that two-mark questions only require simple statements with no explanation needed. Four-mark questions that ask you to “outline” or “describe” a belief or practice will need more detail: either four different points, or two developed points where you explain more detail about the belief or practice.