17. What is Christ’s ascension?
It is the consummation of all the divine works that Christ wrought here on earth in His human nature, and is the beginning of our blessedness. For through His ascension Christ began His reign, gave the apostles the Holy Spirit, and sent them out into all the world to preach the Gospel to all creatures, and sat down at the right hand of the Father Almighty as King and Lord over heaven and earth, over the devil, death, and hell, and reigns in the hearts of His believers through His grace and Holy Word. He went before us to prepare the way for us, and to sweep aside those great tyrants, highway-men, and murderers, the devil, death, sin, and hell, and to clear the way of every danger. There He stands on the shore, offering us His hand, that we may cross the tossing sea of this wicked world, where nothing but waves and stormy winds come to sight, and pass unharmed to the heavenly fatherland. He stoops and takes us up on His holy back, and so carries us to eternal life in heaven. Amen.
– Johann Spangenberg (1484–1550), The Christian Year of Grace
Locus Communis 