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Here is a little question to ponder as we head into the weekend: Where is Jesus?
I’ll be honest. This is a huge question that strikes at the root of the Christian faith. We celebrated Easter a few weeks ago exclaiming with the angels, “He is not here. He is risen!” The “here” referenced in the Gospels pertains to the grave. Jesus was resurrected from the dead, and his body is no longer in a tomb. As we proclaim in the Apostles’ Creed, “We believe on the third day he rose again.” But the story continues…
This Sunday we conclude the Easter season with what is known as Ascension Sunday. It marks the day which Jesus went to the Mount of Olives with his disciples and ascended into heaven. We proclaim with the Creed, “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”
The ascension of Christ can be overlooked and become so commonplace that we fail to recognize its significance. Where is Jesus? He has re-entered the heavenly realm and is seated next to the Father in power and glory. There is so much theological richness to this truth. Christ’s ascension means that in heaven there is one who knows firsthand our experience of suffering and temptation and prays for us. The ascension is a witness and guarantee of our own bodily resurrection in the future. It is also an invitation for us to set our minds “on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1-2) to rule over all things in heaven and everywhere (Eph. 1:10, 20-23). Finally, the ascension of Jesus serves as the prelude to Pentecost, when the power of the risen Christ came upon all believers through the Holy Spirit. But the story continues…
This Sunday in worship we will celebrate and proclaim the ascension of Christ and point to a future hope. “He will come again to judge the quick and the dead,” as we confess in the Apostles’ Creed. We will take a look at a promise of Jesus in John 14: “I will come again…” The power behind our daily walk with Christ is the promise that one day Christ will return in power and glory. His anticipated return means there is resurrection and eternal life waiting for us. His certain return means a new creation will be established forever. His sudden return means we must live expectantly and faithfully until the day of his appearing. Until he returns, the Church keeps the flame of hope alive through our proclamation; and through our good works, we give hope to the world that the way it is now is not the way God intends it to be.
See you Sunday!
Jimmy