After seminary, early on in my ministry, and thanks to the teachings of Dr. Harry
Wendt of Crossways International, the Ascension of Jesus became one of my
favorite stories and one of my favorite events to celebrate in the church year.
I want to share with you some of Dr. Wendt’s teachings with the hope that this
event will take on new significance for you as well.
We will be celebrating the Ascension on Sunday June 5th. The Ascension actually occurs 40 days after the resurrection (that would be June 2nd).
In Acts, chapter 1, we hear that Jesus remains among his disciples for 40 days
after his resurrection, (even as God dwelt among His people in the wilderness
for 40 years after the Exodus from Egypt.) During this 40-day period, he equips
them to perpetuate his ministry after he withdraws his visible presence from
their midst. When Jesus ascended, he did not withdraw his presence; he
transformed it. He remains among his brothers and sisters as God – although
invisibly. His brothers and sisters live out life before his eyes and seek to
make his presence visible in the way they reflect his servant lifestyle.
Back in Acts, while Jesus talks to his disciples, he rises from the ground. It would
have been interesting to see the looks on the disciples’ faces when this was
happening. Jesus rises higher and higher, and finally his presence is swallowed
up in a cloud (a symbol of God’s presence). And while the disciples stand
around confused and flabbergasted, two persons in white robes appear and tell
the disciples that just as Jesus has departed from them, so He will eventually
reappear.
The German composer, Handel, wrote a work titled Zadok the Priest. It begins with a
series of broken chords. Then, as it seems to be developing into something more
consistent, it reverts back to broken chords–this way and that, some in a minor
key. But then it really begins to go somewhere. It begins to swell and surge.
And then the whole work explodes as the choir crashes in! King Solomon is being
crowned! And Zadok is playing a key role in the coronation ceremony.
The Gospels are like that. They lead you here–they lead you there. And suddenly
they explode with their descriptions of Jesus’ coronation. The Gospels
celebrate the coronation of Jesus, the Savior-King. The shock is that Jesus’ throne
is a cross! And while Jesus’ crucifixion was his coronation before human eyes, his
ascension was his enthronement as Lord of the universe.
When in The Apostles’ Creed we speak of Jesus seated at the right hand of the
Father, we shouldn’t think of Him sitting on a literal chair next to a literal
right hand. In the ancient world, the term “right hand” denoted the place of
honor and authority. This means that God the Father endorsed Jesus’ life and
mission, vindicated His Son’s ministry by raising him from the dead, accepted
all that he had done for a fallen humanity, and declared him to be King of the
universe.
Some questions: When Jesus ascended, where did he go to? And where is Jesus now?
Let’s think back to Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances. Jesus appears–and he
disappears. When he appeared, where did he come from? When he disappeared,
where did he go to? The answer in both cases is: he came from nowhere and went
nowhere. Or: he came from everywhere and went everywhere.
When he appeared beyond the resurrection, he was merely letting the disciples know
that he was still around. And when he finally “ascended,” he was not departing.
he was merely saying, “No more little visits–but I am not going away. Even so,
although I will remain with you until the close of the age, you will not see me
again until I reappear.” In short, when Jesus ascended, he did not withdraw his presence–he transformed it.
It follows then that in our lives, individually and collectively, that the only
way it can work is when we submit to Jesus as King and as the Messiah, as
forgiving Savior and Servant Lord. Jesus walked the way of a humble servant-without-limit,
and so calls those who believe and trust in him to walk the same way in all
that they think, say, and do.
Jesus is here! His power to save, to change lives, to transform! His power to
forgive, to demonstrate mercy, justice and compassion remain! Through the
indwelling of the Spirit, Jesus remains in us, with us and through us to
continue the work he did when he walked this earth.
How is it going? Do you live as a representative of the King? Do people encounter King
Jesus and all he brings when they encounter you? Us? Does the power of the
cross still shake the forces of evil and bring about confessions of faith? – Through
you? Through us?
If all that sounds a bit daunting, first things first. Have you submitted to the
Lordship of Jesus? Does Jesus reign King of kings in your heart and life? Do
you make a move without consulting the King?
As we conclude our season of Easter, we declare with continued joy and
expectation, “He is risen! He is risen indeed! The King reigns forever and
ever! Amen and Amen!
And may we live as if it is true!
My continued gratitude and indebtedness to Dr. Harry Wendt: http://www.crossways.org/pdfs/Podcasts_WendtHandoutMay2011.pdf
This article has been particluarly helpful to me. At His ascention,I have long been puzzling ‘where did He go to?’ I had never considered His disapperance as a similar event of His post-resurrection appearing to His Apostles.
This suggests that He did not infact go anywhere, behind the cloud He was transformed from the visible to the invisible, but that He was and still is there all around us.
I love Him.
Grateful thanks to Dr Harry Wendt
Comment by Roger Hayes — September 13, 2011 @ 2:51 pm |