Luke 24:44-53; Ephesians 1:15-23; Acts 1: 1-11

Ascension | 05/18/2023 | Luke 24:44-53; Ephesians 1:15-23; Acts 1: 1-11 | Brad Everett |

The feast of the Ascension, commemorating Jesus’ return to heaven, is one of the four major feasts marking events in the life of Christ (his birth at Christmas, death on Good Friday and Resurrection at Easter being the other three), marking the completion of his earthly ministry.

I admit to being a bit hesitant about describing the Ascension as the conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry, because it can give the mistaken impression that once Jesus was taken up from the disciples’ sight by a cloud into heaven, that he had gone far, far away leaving the earth, and those of us still here, to our own devices while He prepares for his second coming.

But that isn’t the case at all. The passage from Ephesians shows that the exact opposite is true.

Vv. 20-23 “[20] God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. [22] And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The image we have here—if you’ll permit a bit of interpretive license—is one many of us are familiar with from reading stories and watching various movies: the crown prince who set out for adventure in his Father, the king’s lands, has successfully completed his quest and at his Father’s command has returned home. Upon his return is invited by his Father, the King, to sit at his right hand, which is the seat of power and authority. Having seen what all was going on in the realm first hand, now from this new position he continues to be just as active, perhaps even more so, in the life of the kingdom, albeit in a different means than before. From this new position and power, He commands and empowers the followers he gathered, to carry out this work on behalf of the King.

Jesus, left the glory of heaven, sent by the Father to become incarnate by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, fully God and fully human. While here he proclaimed the good news of God in word and in deed, demonstrating through preaching, teaching and various miracles the love of God for the world. This message culminated in his death on the cross followed by his resurrection from the dead three days later—demonstrating and declaring the death no longer has the final word over humanity (remember Jesus is fully human). He appeared at various times to his followers in the 40 days following the resurrection. And what’s most important here is not just that he appeared to them—because if you recall the passages from those first appearances, initially none of the disciples understood what was going on. Rather when he appeared, Jesus always opened their minds to understand the Scriptures so they could know what was going on—not just for their sake but for the sake of their future preaching and teaching the good news of the gospel so that others might come to know and believe in Jesus as the son of God. Christ showed them how all that had happened and that was about to happen was according to God’s good and gracious will.

Thus, when we consider St. Luke’s two accounts of the Ascension, we see how in Acts, the disciples are almost overcome with awe as they watch Jesus ascend. Yet as St. Luke describes in his gospel, the disciples worshipped Jesus as he ascended to the Father—here they finally understand most fully who Jesus is, the Son of God. And filled with this knowledge and their experience of him it says they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Notice the dramatic difference in the disciples from forty days earlier when they were locked away in a room for fear that someone might recognize them as followers of Jesus, to this account where they return to the temple, the most public place in the city (especially as it was during the season between the feasts of Passover and tabernacles when the city’s population boomed with visitors) filled with great joy and praising God.

The change is due to the realization that their teacher was really a king. The King, the Messiah of God—and not one who ruled at a distance but was with them. Granted, not in the same way he was before, but still very much with them.

Further, he had given them instructions to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It just kept getting better and better. In the Old Testament the Spirit of God descended only on those called by God so they could be specially empowered to carry out whatever ministry they had been divinely appointed. This same Spirit has been promised to the disciples—the presence of God with them has not decreased because of Christ’s ascending to the Father, but is increasing.

This is the promise of the feast of the Ascension—that by his going to the Father, Jesus is with us even more closely and intimately than before. Because of the Ascension he is with us in the bread and wine of Holy Communion, just as present, even more so, than the person sitting next to you.

Further, the same great joy that filled the disciples is held out to us in Christ’s presence today. A joy, not dependent on external circumstances (i.e. everything going how we want, on the schedule we want), but grounded simply in the gracious presence of our Lord. Trusting that his presence is the fulfillment of his promise that sin and death no longer have the last word over our lives but that forgiveness, grace, peace and of course joy, are ours in him.

Brad Everett

Ascension Lutheran Church

Calgary, AB Canada