Ascension Day

Ascension Day

Ascension Day reminds me of Kevin McCallister of Home Alone fame. You remember Kevin, aka Macaulay Culkin ,right? The whole family was rushing around to go to Paris for Christmas, and in the confusion, Kevin was overlooked and left home alone. While we make a big deal of days like Christmas, or Easter, or Pentecost, or Good Friday, we tend to over look Ascension Day sort of like Kevin was overlooked by his family. Big mistake, because like Kevin, the day Jesus ascended to heaven reveals to us aspects of Jesus that are important in this transition. Lets focus on three.

First, Jesus’ earthly ministry came to an end the day he ascended to heaven. Yes, he was born, eat, drank, healed, taught, and led a group of people. Yes he died and was resurrected. However, the day he was taken up to heaven, the day he left the earth, was a change for it was an end to his earthly existence. Also, Jesus changed as he was taken to heaven without the benefit of a jetpack or a chopper, and he was hid behind a cloud, never to be seen again. Don't know a human who can do that. Jesus’ change is important for us, for as we move out of this pandemic, as we move out of this transition, changes will take place. And as seen by the early church in Acts, I believe that we will grow stronger as we change. We will be able to reach more people via technology as well as appreciate what we have when we are together. Perhaps more people will be able to participate on mission trips as they might have to look differently. I hate to say it, but maybe using technology we can get more people to help us with committees and task forces, planning the future of this church as our being comfortable with Zoom may assist us with offering an online alternative to driving to church. Also, like the Post Office, neither snow, or rain, or sleet, or a pandemic will keep us from worshipping God thanks to the change that this transition is bringing. The same can be said for Wednesday evening activities. Perhaps you are changing as well as you have time and space to learn new skills or enhance old ones. The ascension marked a change in Jesus from his earthly existence to his existence now, and perhaps this transition will mark a change for us as well. Yes, one day we will move to green, but how we are could be different, and that is ok.

Second, when I said, existence now, it bothered me for it begs the question, “where is Jesus now?” It reminds me when I was covering for a buddy who was tasked with getting us more cookies which we were not allowed to have. His mom would say, where is he, and my response was the non specific downstairs. She knew that was the kitchen. But where is Jesus? The answer is Jesus ascended from earth to the right hand of God, a position of high honor. In this position Jesus, who has authority and honor, is currently interceding for us, Jesus prays for us, and the head of the church is seated on the right hand of God. Think about this for a second. All of us are currently praying for this virus to end, for people to be healed, and for a return to normal. Great, but it gives me so much comfort and a feeling of power and peace that Jesus himself, sitting on the right hand of God, is also praying for us. So, let us remember friends, that when something is sent out on the prayer list, the number praying is not just our church and friends, but Jesus himself who is right next to God. I’m sure that God is hearing a lot about Coronavirus right now as Jesus is praying right now about it. Jesus is also interceding for us, or more specifically reminding God what was done on the Cross keeping God’s anger from us. You know these days, with so much anxiety and tension, perhaps there is a rise in sin as well. Not a good thing, but thanks be to God we have Jesus interceding for us, reminding God of what was done, so that we would be forgiven and not have to deal with God’s anger. Also, let us remember that Jesus is the head of the church, leading, guiding, and sharing his bride of the throne room of God. The Ascension is critical for it reminds us that Jesus is on the right hand of God, interceding, praying, and leasing for us. Critical things in the transition and after.

Third, did you happen to notice what the two men dressed in white said to the disciples? They said that Jesus would come back in the same way as you have seen him go into heaven. So, one day, Jesus will descend in bodily form. So friends, as we live out this transition, let us remember we are living in a larger in-between time which the Ascension reminds us of. It is the in between time between when Jesus ascending and when Jesus descends. So, as we are looking forward to the end of this pandemic, let us also look forward to Jesus returning, a time of no death, a time of no tears, a time when we are with God, and a time when there will be no more crying or disease. You know coming out of this pandemic will be great, I can go to a restaurant and sit down, but it is nothing compared to when Jesus comes back. Nothing. Amen.