THE EBE Ọ KWỤ OF THE ASCENSION IN THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLES

Nwanyanwu Christopher

The ebe-ọkwụ of the Ascension in the life of the apostles already leads us (by the euphoria of this period in the life of the Church) to no other ascension but that of Christ which we just celebrated. Going further, we all know that there is a correlation between the Ascension of Christ into Heaven and the descent of the Holy Spirit. Beyond this fact, there is also a quiet correlation between the Ascension of Christ into heaven and another event which is all about the transcendental movement of the Apostles into heaven. This later correlation as a whole has a correlation with the “what comes after” of the Ascension. Thus, the question of the how of this becomes very significant here.

However, we cannot fully enter the mkpụrụ-ihe of this work without first introducing to us the invited guest of this show who is not just here for its sake, rather, it is here for the purpose of our stay here. The invited guest is no other but ebe ọ kwụ. This compound word is a wedding ceremony of three Igbo morphemes namely ebe, ọ and kwụ. Ebe means Place, Ọ means it/he/she and Kwụ means stand. By way of proper transliteration we have place it/he/she stands. And so the ebe ọ kwụ of anything simply means the place it stands in a thing. Having giving this very important introduction of our guest, we shall quickly move into the mkpụrụ-ihe of this work as could be suspected from the gate of this work.

It is quite important to understand that Christ wishes that all men be saved as they come to the knowledge of the truth. He mandated the Apostles and Disciples to spread his good news to the ends of the earth. After faithfully carrying out this task, he will reward them with the heavenly inheritance. This also has a link with his ascension into heaven. This is because while on earth, Christ promised the Apostles that he is going to prepare a place for them in Heaven.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust in me. In my Father’s house, there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. (Jn. 14:1-3).

This statement of Jesus was given during the moment he was consoling the Apostles over the news of his death and burial. Already, he has commanded them to spread the message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Now if it is the case that he will eventually die as he kept on informing the Apostles, it means that ordinarily, they will be afraid or rather confused. The confusion arises when they try to reconcile the death and burial of Christ and their reward for being with him all this while and the supposed obedience to the final injunctions. Hence, at this point Christ deemed it necessary to assure them of their place in heaven which he will prepare for them when he goes back to heaven. And so coming from this background, we can say that the Ascension of Christ into Heaven was a hope of eternal inheritance by the virtue of the fact that it is only when he goes back to the father that he Christ will prepare their various “rooms” for them. And so the Ascension of Christ into heaven is an event that brings hope to the Apostles, the hope of heavenly inheritance.

More so, the above, by implication of the above too, Christ’s Ascension into heaven assures us of our heavenly inheritance as well; for he said while on earth that whenever he goes up to heaven, he will draw all men to himself.

“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself”. The lifting up of Jesus on the cross signifies and announces his lifting up by his ascension into heaven, and indeed begins it. Jesus Christ, the one priest of the new and eternal covenant, “entered, not into a sanctuary made by human hands… but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf”. There Christ permanently exercises his priesthood, for he “always lives to make intercession” for those who draw near to God through him”… (CCC 662)

However, the ebe ọ kwụ of the Ascension in the life of the Apostles does not end with the hope of heavenly inheritance and its implication on the life of Christians. In fact, there is a more significant ebe ọ kwụ of the ascension in the life of the Apostles. This significant ebe ọ kwụ has a correlation between the first ebe ọ kwụ of the Ascension and its implication. The more significant ebe ọ kwụ of the Ascension event expresses itself in terms of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. The correlation between the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the assurance of heavenly inheritance for the Apostles and that of all Christians is effect of the message in the life of God’s people. And upon getting and accepting the message from the Apostles, the people of God through their life styles will draw themselves close to Christ who will finally intercede on their behalf. Now since the delivery of the good news will gain heaven for the Apostles and for the people of God, and by virtue of the fact that as at the time of these events, the Apostles were not fully ready for the work, it follows that they needed a motivator, an encouragement (Acts 9:31; 20:23; 21:4), a helper, a divine assistance and guidance (Acts 15: 28; 20:28). This was no other but the Holy Spirit whom Christ had already spoken about. And this coming of the Holy Spirit has a correlation with the Ascension of Christ into heaven, because we can say from the scriptures that it was Christ’s Ascension into heaven that brought about the Holy Spirit on the Apostles.

“Now I am going to him who sent me…Unless I go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (Jn 16:5-7)… But when he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth (Jn 16:13).

 

This goes on to reveal the relationship between the ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles; for from the above we can say that the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles depended on the Ascension of Christ into heaven, since as Christ had said, he will send the Spirit of Truth only when he leaves the world to join the Father in Heaven.

When Christ is finally glorified, he can in turn send the Spirit from his place with the Father to those who believe in him: he communicates to them his glory, that is, the Holy Spirit who glorifies him. (CCC 690)

 

From the foregoing it becomes very clear that the Ascension of Christ into heaven was a hope of the descent of the Holy Spirit. This is even the case because following the injunctions of Christ before he ascended; they remained in the upper room in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came down on all of them which triggered off the courageous spread of the gospel by them. Finally, from this piece, the ebe ọ kwụ the event of Ascension in the life of the Apostles is first that it gave them the hope of getting a place in the Kingdom which all Christians by implication of it share as well. Secondly, it gave them the hope of the descent of the Holy Spirit on them which finally came upon them ten days after the ascension event.