CREDIT: Ryk Neethling, 2010
Dear Easter People,
Name the four biggest days of the church year. I’ll give you a moment …
I’m sure you thought of Christmas and Easter. Perhaps you thought of Pentecost. How about Ascension? Ascension is the day Jesus returned to His Father in heaven. It’s among the church year’s most important days because we celebrate Jesus going ahead to prepare a place for us to live forever and His gift to us of the Holy Spirit (John 14:1-3, 26).
Jesus departed physically, but it didn’t mean He has disappeared from our lives. In fact, immediately after ascending, His disciples went to the Temple to be with Him (Luke 24:50-53). They prayed for His guidance in selecting a new Apostle (Acts 1:24-25). They prayed to Him as they organized their new community of believers (Acts 2:42). They prayed for His help as they proclaimed His gospel to others (Acts 4:29-30). Whenever they needed to hear from Jesus – they prayed, and He answered them. What’s more, Jesus continually spoke to His disciples as they recounted His gospel to everyone they came in contact with. Jesus was never far away from His faithful people then …
Nor is He far from us today. Through the Spirit, received in Baptism we believe Jesus and His promises. Through the Spirit, whenever you open His word and read it, or hear it spoken, you know Jesus is right there with you – speaking to you in those words. Whenever you open your heart and lips in prayer, He is near to you – speaking to you through His answers. Whenever you come to worship, He is present in His word and in His Sacrament of Holy Communion. He is never far from you. And one day, He promises to return. When He comes back, He will return to judge all the living and the dead. Then He will bring all who believe in Him back to His Kingdom to dwell in the places He has prepared for us. Jesus is never far from us. He’s here right now.
In Our Risen and Ascended Savior’s Love,
Pastor Jim