Across the Pastor’s Desk by Mark Boorsma

The Ascension of our Lord, on Thursday, is always day 40 of the 50-day Christian resurrection feast. Ascension celebrates the lifting up (begun on the cross) of Jesus. Three strong themes of Ascension are sovereignty, support and sending.

Sovereignty asks the question, “who’s in charge here?” The Christian belief is that God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places … and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:20, 22-23) While this can be believed, it is impossible to prove. Although it is observably true that this world spins out of control in countless ways, faith invites the possibility that Jesus has matters in hand in ways we cannot always see. Followers of Jesus dare to believe that Jesus is in charge, in part because they have acknowledged his authority and power in their own lives.

Jesus gives you steadfast support. The book of Hebrews ponders the role of the ascended Christ: “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” (Hebrews 9:24) Ascension’s central insight is that Jesus — who loves you unfailingly — has not so much left to go away into heaven as he has taken up his eternal and urgent work of putting in a good word for you with his Father. Ascension does not imagine an absent Christ. Rather, it proclaims the new and improved eternal presence of Jesus to everyone. Jesus is living and well and actively seeking your well-being, now and forever.

The scriptural pattern is that disciples (learners or pupils) of Jesus become apostles (sent ones) as friends of Jesus carry his message and mission forward. Just as Jesus reached out with God’s love and compassion, so he now sends you to do the same. In a broken and hurting world that yearns for healing and nourishment, Jesus summons your hands to do his work. He sends you in his name to heal and bless. For all with enough insight and imagination to trust him, the risen and ascended Jesus meets you, his beloved, raising you up and sending you in his own apostolic mission of mercy in the world. The living and reigning Christ supports you and sends you to make a proactive difference in God’s world.

 

The Rev. Mark Boorsma is the pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.