Ascension Day

Christmas. Good Friday. Easter. Pentecost. We know these days and have a sense of the meaning of each. These are “high holy days” in the Church year, foundational days for followers of Jesus. Apart from them, Jesus would be just another human being – born and dead a long time ago. Apart from them, there would be no Church; there would be no point in being a follower of Jesus.

Yet there is another day in the Church year of equal significance. It comes between Easter and Pentecost. We often just glide over it, perhaps with scarcely a thought about it. That day is today: Ascension Day. Ascension Day marks the departure of the resurrected Jesus from his earthly sojourn. It marks the day God lifted Jesus up to be at his right hand in heaven. (See Acts 1:1-12 for an account.)

Ascension Day has receded from the consciousness of much of the Church in the modern era. I am not sure why. It cannot help that it is marked on a weekday. Also, it does not seem to have the same sentiment or drama as Christmas or Good Friday. Doubtless there are other reasons. For whatever reasons, this receding is a poverty in the life of the Church and the lives of we who love and follow Jesus.

Why is it a poverty? Lifted up to heaven to be at God’s right hand. It sounds interesting, even exotic. But what does the ascension mean? What does it mean for Jesus? What does it mean for the Church and for followers of Jesus? It means much – much more than can be discussed here, decidedly much more than I truly grasp intellectually or spiritually. Nevertheless, this much can be said – can be gladly grasped in mind and heart by each of us. The ascension signifies and certifies that Jesus is Lord of all of created existence, Lord of all people. Jesus, once abased in bleakest humiliation, now reigns on high. The incarnate, crucified, risen Jesus is the ascended Lord who reigns in glory.

However, while he reigns from on high and in glory, he reigns not from an unfathomable, unbridgeable distance. Because he ascended, he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in the world and in his followers. Ascended, he yet exercises his reign deeply, intimately, and pervasively through the Spirit. Whatever the circumstances in the world, the ascended Jesus is Lord of the cosmos. Whatever the circumstances of life for you and me, he is Lord of you and me. It is a lordship he exercises in and through the Spirit. Thus, in the Spirit, he is deeply, intimately, and pervasively present with you and me. Christmas – Good Friday – Easter – Ascension Day – Pentecost. Because of each and all of these days, we can love Jesus, we can follow Jesus, we can trust Jesus – in all circumstances, in all of life.