Ascension Sunday

Ascension Sunday

The first of three studies by Lieut-Colonel Alan Burns

NOW you see me… now you don’t! Forgive this rather frivolous introduction to the Ascension story. However, it seems to sum up the disciples’ feelings of perplexity and bewilderment at the moment when, it is recorded, a cloud hid Jesus from their sight as he ascended into Heaven.

In that moment, as he vanished from their sight, it seems that their cognitive capacity could not shed a glimmer of light on what their eyes were witnessing. ‘Is he really gone? Should we release the gaze of our eyes on that cloud that is hiding him? He’ll be back in a minute... surely!’

We can understand their perplexity. The disciples had recently experienced an overwhelming sense of grief and bereavement after the death of Jesus on the cross. Then his appearances and disappearances during those post-resurrection days left them wondering whether he was in fact coming or going!

For example, on the road to Emmaus Jesus suddenly appeared to two of his followers. At the precise moment when they recognised him, he was suddenly gone: ‘He disappeared from their sight’ (Luke 24:31 all quotations from Good News Bible). Now, at the Ascension, their complete inability to understand what was happening led to a further angelic appearance and explanation. The angels spoke some rather strong words (with a hint of irony?) which were designed to fill in the gaps in their understanding: ‘They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them and said, “Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to Heaven” (Acts 1:10 and 11).

The angels told the disciples that they were looking in the wrong place, and using their eyes instead of their faith. That the angels appeared at this moment suggests that the Ascension is a significant moment in the story of Jesus. Have we misunderstood or downplayed its significance, seeing it as a less important moment in the unfolding story? What should we be ‘looking up at’ as we consider this event?

The big question in the mind of the disciples may have been this: ‘Is Jesus moving back to Heaven now? Is he leaving us?’

In the light of what Jesus had repeatedly told them, this posed a real problem. Jesus made many promises concerning his presence with them. He promised never to leave them or abandon them (see John 14:18 and 19). He promised to be with them always, right until the end of the world. Was he now leaving them? How were they to understand what their eyes were witnessing?

The sight of Jesus ascending into Heaven should not be interpreted as Jesus leaving the earth, nor indeed leaving his people. His bodily ascension into Heaven is, of course,
a mystery – in the same way that Calvary and the Resurrection are mysteries, leaving us lost in wonder and praise.

What we do know is that the Ascension is part of God’s redemptive plan.

In his book Surprised By Hope, Tom Wright reminds us of the significance of the Ascension by pointing out that the sight of the body of Jesus ascending endorses his lordship over Heaven and earth. His ascension is a clear indication that he rules in Heaven and he rules on earth and that, one day, God’s Kingdom will come in all its fullness when the two shall meet. Jesus himself said: ‘I have been given all authority in Heaven and on earth’ (Matthew 28:18).

The Ascension demonstrates that Jesus is Lord – in God’s eternal domain and on earth. It demonstrates the authority and reign of Jesus over all things in Heaven and on earth. It inspires the hope that we frequently express in our prayer: ‘May your Kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’ (Matthew 6:10).

TO CONSIDER
• In what ways does the Ascension of Jesus speak into our understanding of his reign and rule over everything?
• Can you identify other passages in the subsequent pages of the New Testament where this is reinforced?

• Lieut-Colonel Burns is Scotland Secretary and Divisional Commander, East Scotland