In the parables, Jesus taught lessons with stories familiar to His listeners. While the following story is not a parable, it still may serve to teach sincere students of the Word “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26).
Consider the following fictional scenario. Many years ago, some in the world of Christendom had looked on the great and notable day of the Ascension of our Lord as a day worthy of a special remembrance once each year. Over the centuries, this celebration has become quite well known. In time, I learned of this special holy day and determined to participate in the celebration. I said, “That was a great and notable day in the course of human events; I’ll join them.” Religionists finally settled on July 17th each year as the day for the Ascension celebration, though there was some debate among them as to the actual day of the Ascension. On the day of the Ascension celebration, they have young men in white apparel standing nearby repeating the phrase, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” among other things. These religious folk have also pulled ideas from pagan practices and Roman Catholic traditions to incorporate into their holy day celebration of the Ascension.
After some thought, I decided to try and see if I could find in Scripture where God had directed us to celebrate the Ascension of our Lord. I read Mark 16:19, which mentions the ascension, but there is nothing in that passage to instruct me to celebrate the Ascension. I read Luke’s account (24:51), and Luke does not say anything about a special day for celebrating the Ascension either. In Acts 1:9-11, Luke gives more details, but still there is no directive to celebrate the Ascension on a special day each year. The writer of Hebrews and Peter allude to the Ascension, but still there is no command from the Lord to celebrate the Ascension as a special holy day (Hebrews 4:14, 9:24; 1 Peter 3:22). Whatever the origin, it certainly did not come “through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:12). I do, however, find ample teaching that we are to remember the Lord’s death until He comes again (e.g., 1 Corinthians 11:23ff). Well, that is interesting.
Someone might say, “God doesn’t say not to celebrate the Ascension.” Let’s see if we can find where God has said NOT to celebrate the Ascension as a religious holy day. We search, but there is no record of that either! To paraphrase Hebrews 7:14, “Moses [nor any other inspired writer] spoke nothing concerning [celebrating the Ascension of our Lord].” So it’s true! God did not say not to celebrate the Ascension, but that does not authorize us to celebrate the Ascension as a religious holy day.
If I were to continue in the practice of celebrating the Ascension of our Lord on July 17th as a religious holy day, I would be acting without scriptural authority. Right? I would be doing that which the Lord had not commanded (cf. Leviticus 10:1-2). I would be disregarding the revelation of God’s will and disrespecting the silence of the Scriptures. As you read this story, see if you do not find a direct correlation between this scenario and the celebration of Easter and Christmas as special religious holy days.
