XXXIII. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS

The Gospel of St. John contains no history whatever of the Ascension of Jesus; indeed, the narrative termimates before it comes to that point. Yet there are passages in it from which we may incidentally gather that the ascension was considered by him as a notorious fact. Passages which perfectly coincide with the direct description of that event, contained in Acts 1:3–13.

Thus, John 3:13.—“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”

Again, 6:62.—“What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?”

Again, 20:17.—“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

Had the Gospel of St. John been the only portion of the New Testament which had descended to our times, and all record of the Ascension had perished, these casual allusions to it might have been lost upon us; but when coupled with such record, a record quite independent of the Gospel of St. John, they convey to us, far more strongly than any account he might have given of it in detail could have done, the testimony of that Apostle to the truth of this last marvellous act of the marvellous life of our blessed Lord; and of which He was himself a spectator.