Tomorrow my church is celebrating the Ascension of Jesus into heaven forty days after his resurrection from the dead. He tells his disciples that if they love him, they will be happy that he is going to the father. He tells them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come to them. He instructs them to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. He promises that he will be with them until the end of time. He blesses them and rises into heaven, where he takes a seat at the right hand of his father, probably after an incredible exchange of loving greetings. An angel comes down to assure the disciples that they will see him coming in the same way that they saw him go.
I have always believed that we have it backwards in terms of the way we look at the significance of Christian holidays. I truly believe that Ascension Day is the most important one, even more important than Christmas or Easter. If we really love Jesus, this is the day that we should be celebrating with the most joy. He came into the world for our sake rather than his own. It had to be difficult to take on human limitations and face all the sadness and difficulties of life. He rose from the dead once again for our sake. He wanted to prove to us that death was not the end and that he had power over it. However, even in his walk on Earth following his resurrection, he wasn't in the place where he truly wanted to be. Finally, on Ascension Day, he was able to do something for himself. He was able to do something that would make him happy. He was able to go home. He was able to see and be with his father. If we truly love him, we will rejoice that he was able to do this.
The Ascension brings hope for us, too. When we follow Jesus we must take up our cross. The journey in his footsteps is not an easy one. It requires self-discipline, sacrifice and courage. We have to be willing to put him above everything, even our own lives. The ascension promises us, though, that there is life beyond the cross. If we follow Jesus through the passion, we will eventually follow him into the resurrection and ascension. He will come again and raise us up bodily to share in the joy that he has with his father. The church celebrates the joyful season of Easter for fifty days - ten days longer than the sorrowful season of lent. It was a purposeful plan to show the faithful that joy will always follow sorrow and that the joy will last much longer than the sorrow. Jesus's whole experience down here lasted for only thirty-three years. He preached for three years. He hung on the cross for three hours. He has been living in his father's kingdom for over two thousand years, and he will remain there, someday with us, forever.
Add comment
Comments