Did Christ Leave the Church After His Ascension?

Main Idea

This lecture affirms that Christ’s ascension into heaven was not an abandonment of the Church or the disciples, but a change in the mode of His presence and work. He ascended in the flesh, yet remained present through His divinity, continually working in the Church and in believers.

Divine Presence After the Ascension

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that after the Ascension, Christ continued to work with His disciples in an invisible way, as Scripture says: “And the Lord worked with them.” His presence did not cease, but became a presence perceived by faith rather than by the senses.

The Maturity of the Disciples

The Ascension was a declaration that the period of preparing the disciples had ended. They became spiritually mature and capable of bearing responsibility in preaching and shepherding, while Christ continued to support and strengthen them inwardly.

Christ’s Ongoing Work

After the Ascension, Christ continued to appear and act: He appeared to Saint Stephen, to the Apostle Paul many times, encouraged the apostles, assigned places of service, and sent them to the nations.

Christ in the Midst of the Churches

In the Book of Revelation, Christ is seen standing among the churches, holding their shepherds in His hand, guiding, advising, and disciplining when needed, which confirms His constant care for the Church.

Christ in the Sacraments and the Liturgy

Christ is present in every liturgy, on the altar, and dwells by faith in the hearts of believers. He fulfills His promise: “I am with you always.”

Divine Indwelling in the Believer

Christ not only works with us but lives within us. The human person becomes a temple of the Holy Trinity, and God dwells in the one who loves Him and keeps His commandments.

The Personal Call

The lecture concludes with a call for every person to ensure Christ’s presence in his or her personal life—not merely in theory, but lived through faith, prayer, and the continual remembrance of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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