God’s mission was to descend to earth and become man in order to save us through His death on the Cross. “Having fulfilled His salvific work on our behalf” (Kontakion of the Feast), He returned to His “base,” to where He was before (Vespers of the Feast of the Ascension).
The prophets had foreseen this great event and presented it to us in an impressive and allegorical manner. The Prophet David says: “God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet” (Ps. 46:6). The Prophet Isaiah says: “Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like those of one who treads in the winepress?” (Is. 63:2–3). “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the nations no one was with Me. I trampled them in My wrath and crushed them like dust, and I brought down their blood to the ground” (Is. 63:3). The angels are also depicted as calling: “Lift up your gates, O you rulers, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors… and the King of glory shall enter” (Ps. 23:9–10). “Who is this King of glory?” they ask. “The Lord of hosts—He is the King of glory.” And thus, He sat at the right hand of His Father.
However, His Ascension into heaven also had another salvific purpose: the sending of the Holy Spirit. Christ said to His disciples: “I will send you from the Father the Spirit of truth” (Jn. 15:26). Could the Holy Spirit not have come of His own accord? Did Christ have to send Him?
Of course, as a “free agent” (Pentecost Sunday Matins Service, Canon A, Ode IV), He could have come of His own will. But why had the Holy Spirit not yet come?
The way had been closed because of our sins, and it needed to be opened. It was opened through the Crucifixion, Burial, Resurrection, and Ascension of the Lord (St. John Chrysostom, Homily on Pentecost 1, PG 50:457). Thus, when Christ says to His disciples, “I will send you the Holy Spirit” (Jn. 15:26), He means, “I will open the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit.” St. John Chrysostom further clarifies: “I will prepare you to receive Him” (Homily 78 on the Gospel of John, PG 59:423).
Christ Himself said to His disciples: “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you” (Jn. 16:7). And: “He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (Jn. 14:26). That is, without the Holy Spirit, the disciples would not even have remembered Christ.
To be continued.
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