Happy Ascension Day!

We mark Ascension Day 40 days after the resurrection, so this year we are celebrating it this week  (precisely, May 29!).  On Sunday, we will continue to ponder over this miraculous moment in Jesus’s ministry, and the implications of that for all of us. 

[Don’t forget: Mariners’ worship service will be at 11:30 – 12:15 online as a spoken service.  Ford Underground Garage is closed because of the Grand Prix. The link for the livestream on Sunday can be found below].  

The Ascension can’t really be seen apart from Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. In fact, the early Church used to celebrate all aspects of Jesus’s ministry together as one big event. It makes sense because we cannot have one without the other. 

We now have separate dates when we celebrate Christmas, remember his death on Holy Friday, rejoice in His resurrection on Easter Sunday, and somewhat forget about Ascension. I hope we learn to appreciate and celebrate Ascension, and every other miraculous moment of the Incarnation, Death, and Resurrection as the complete work of the Messiah! We pray the Lord continues to speak and reveal new things to us every time.   

In Luke 24:49-51,

JESUS said, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

In this passage, we see Jesus telling his disciples ‘again’ that He’s going back to the Father, and will send them the Holy Spirit. I imagine that the words He spoke to them, before his death and resurrection, now have a different meaning. 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.  Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:12-14

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

John 14:18-20

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 

John 14:25-27 

As the disciples were face to face with the resurrected Jesus, we wonder how they received these words: 

JESUS said, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high

Unlike the scared and scattered group, who even fell asleep as Jesus was about to face the Cross, now his disciples have learned His obedience. Now, they waited and by the grace of God were filled with the Holy Spirit (yes, we will talk about Pentecost next). This moment marked the beginning of the amazing time in history we’re still living in, where we can all be filled with the Spirit and walk in the power of our Triune God.

Between Ascension, which the disciples witnessed with their very eyes, and the moment the words of Jesus were made reality in their lives (Pentecost), we imagine their hearts were filled with expectation. Maybe some of them even doubted again. No matter what, they waited. They finally listened and obeyed.  

We pray you can take the time to listen to His voice too and surrender to His goodness. Hold on to His promises today. Whatever circumstances you may be facing, know that He is with you. May the Holy Spirit fill us all anew, and empower us to live and love like Jesus!

Blessings and Peace,

Dr. Christiane and Rev. Todd