Wherever Jesus Goes, We go too – Ascension Day

Wherever Jesus Goes, We Go Too

Ascension Day T All Readings

INI

Wherever Jesus goes, we go too. Because Christ is our head, and we are His body. Whatever He inherits, we inherit. Whatever He merits, we become beneficiaries. Wherever He is, there we are also (Jn 14:3).

            That’s what’s so comforting about our Lord’s Ascension, though, His physical absence may cause us to question that. The disciples certainly seemed to question their nearness to Jesus. As Jesus was lifted up and disappeared into the clouds, the disciples looked longingly into heaven. Admittedly, they were still a bit confused about Jesus’ mission. Because they asked “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)” But the Spirit of Truth would later clarify their confusion at Pentecost. Nonetheless, this moment was sorrowful. Their rabbi, their leader, their Messiah was gone.

            Or was He? The angel questioned the disciples who were gazing into heaven. He said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?” They looked into heaven as if Jesus had abandoned them. But the angel soothed their sorrows, reminding them of Jesus’ promises. He said, “This Jesus… will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” So, even though Jesus’ physical appearance was no longer perceptive to their eyes – and He will return in a way perceptible to the eye – but nonetheless, He’s still with us. We recall Christ’s promise last Sunday to the disciples – “I will not leave you as orphans.” So we see Him, as Paul alludes to, by the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, who enlightens the eyes of our hearts. That’s to say, through faith. By believing His promises. Trusting that He is where He says He is.

            And where is He now? Well, that’s a bit of a complicated question. Mostly, the Scriptures speak of the Ascended Lord as sitting at the right hand of God. Seems to suggest a singular place. But also, as Paul says later in Ephesians, He’s ascended into heaven to “fill all things”. So, in another sense He’s everywhere. He also promises to be with His bride, the Church, in a special way at the Great Commission – “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” And of course, we receive our Lord’s local presence in a special way through His body and blood in the Eucharist.

            But perhaps the best way to understand the Ascension of Jesus and its great benefit for us is through the words of Hebrews 6:19-20. For the Ascension teaches us that where Christ is, we shall be also. It says “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.”

Christ, the flesh and blood man who conquered death and the grave, ascended into heaven with His flesh and blood, so that He can represent us before the Heavenly Father. Because Christ’s flesh now sits at the right hand of God in heaven, our flesh also has the sure promise of heaven’s inheritance. Because that’s where our brother sits and advocates for us. And even now, that inheritance already belongs to us because of Him.

It’s as St. Augustine once said during one of his sermons on the Ascension – “Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth. For just as he remained with us even after his ascension, so we too are already in heaven with him, even though what is promised us has not yet been fulfilled in our bodies.”

            The fullness of what Christ won for us hasn’t yet been completely fulfilled. Our flesh still suffers sin, trials, and hardships here below. But because Christ, our brother, has ascended bodily into the heavenly places, we have a living hope of what our inheritance will be. He’s there before the throne of the Father to intercede for us, to reign over His Church, and put all things under His feet.

            And how does the church reign with Christ here on earth? It brings heaven to earth. And in heaven is the Lamb sitting on His throne, being worshipped by everyone from every tribe, nation, language, and people. His bloodshed covers the gathered faithful, washing their robes white and revealing that their sins have been completely forgiven. That’s what happens in heaven. And the duty of the Church is to bring the reign of this Christ from heaven to earth.

What are the tools Christ gives His church for this mission? The preaching of truth, and the Holy Spirit, who opens the eyes of faith, that we may see that Jesus isn’t gone from our midst. He’s right here. From the Gospel reading in Luke, Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to be with the disciples, to empower them to spread the Good News of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. In response to God’s great act of love toward us, we believe the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins. This is to be shared with all people.

And through that preaching and teaching of the church, the Spirit creates faith in those who hear and believe. In this way, the kingdom of God comes down from heaven to earth. And when sinners are brought from death to life, there’s much joy and celebration in heaven. As Jesus says, when one sinner repents of their sins, there’s more rejoicing in heaven over that one than over 99 righteous people who need no repentance.

            So, as you can see, Jesus’ ascension is beneficial for the church. Because through His ascension, He intercedes for us before the Father. He fills all things. He gives His Spirit to the world that through the Church’s preaching, He might be revealed. But most comforting, His Ascension shows what our flesh and blood will inherit one day – life forever with our heavenly Father. For He is our brother, our forerunner. Thus, we can have confidence that wherever He goes, we go too. Therefore, heaven isn’t closed to us. We are hidden in our life with Christ, as He still comes to us today. Not visibly, but veiled in Word, and water, and bread and wine.

            Unlike the disciples who stared into heaven looking for Christ, we look to where He’s promised to be now – in Word and Sacrament – where He reigns in us, bringing us to repentance and forgiveness. And through His promised Holy Spirit, He empowers us to bring His heavenly kingdom to earth.

INI

Pastor Joshua Ralston