Up and Away
Commentary
The resurrection of Jesus takes center stage, rightfully so, in the church calendar. By contrast, Ascension Day often falls by the wayside, unless it happens to fall on a Sunday. It’s something Jesus did, but it’s not necessarily a significant event in the lives of many churches. These three texts, however, illustrate the central importance of this event, which is the capstone of the ministry of Jesus.
In Acts, we are instructed through scripture and the experience of Jesus to be about the work of the kingdom, empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. This is more important than worrying about the return of Christ.
In the passage from Ephesians, it is made clear that in ascending, Jesus is to be seen as reigning above all other powers and authorities, and in our case, priorities.
Luke emphasizes all this is happening in accordance with the Hebrew scriptures, and invited all to continue interpreting, as we go about the work which the Holy Spirit is sending us on. Circumstances change. The word of God instructs in all ages.
Acts 1:1-11
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus ascends to heaven the day he is resurrected! That is quite different from the Book of Acts. But Acts has a different aim in mind. Remember — these two accounts were written by the same author. It’s like telling the same story but with a different point to make. What’s the point in Acts?
Jesus hangs around for forty days, which is a number filled with Biblical significance. It calls to mind the forty years in the desert that the people wandered, the forty days on Mount Sinai when Moses met God, and the forty days in the wilderness that Jesus fasted and endured temptation. In a way, this is how the new Israel is created, in the time of instruction which will empower the disciples who are told by Jesus, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (1:8)
At the very end of this time, one of the disciples asks Jesus “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.”
This is the question many believers ask every time there are wars, rumors of war, or maybe, let’s say, a pandemic! Is this the time? Jesus spoke clearly to them and to us — “It’s not for you to know!”
It’s striking that right after the ascension, the apostles continue to look to heaven, almost as if they think Jesus will return immediately, but they are scolded by angels to do what Jesus told them to do. We too are not to stare into the heavens or try to calculate the date of the end of the world. We are sent out to the world, like they were, to do the Master’s work. What that is might change from era to era. Last year a lot of folks served the Lord by making masks, others by retooling factories to make vital machines. Jesus may have very different work for us to do this day. Interpreting scripture together, listening to the Holy Spirit, responding with joy and energy, is what we are to be about.
Ephesians 1:15-23
Preach from Ephesians on Ascension Day? Wouldn’t you rather select the texts from either Acts or the Gospel of Luke, which actually describe the ascension, as the text for your message, even if you do may have to navigate your way through the differences in the two accounts?
But if you’re game, so are we. This passage is a single sentence, perhaps indicative of the fact that letters were dictated to a professional scribe, not usually handwritten by the sender. The apostle is evidently on a roll, and the images just slide off the tongue.
In this rolling passage the apostle gives thanks for the Ephesians and prays they grow in knowledge of hope, inheritance, and power, to build them up. But the portion central to our celebration of the ascension speaks about what it means for Christ to be raised, not only from the dead, but to the heavenly places. Being seated at the right hand, much as we see in Daniel 7, demonstrates that Jesus is above all worldly powers. The words authority, power, dominion, and names refer not only to worldly authorities, but to any other heavenly beings, whether infernal, heavenly, or in the mind of some people in that age, neutral daemonsnot sure if this is the right word?. Despite the shocking degradation of crucifixion and burial, the risen Jesus is now reigning above all things in power and glory. For those of us who are believers, there can be no other enthroned to whom we give allegiance.
Luke 24:44-53
The story of the Ascension in Luke is compact and precise. The resurrected Jesus appears to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus who at first do not recognize him, but at last their eyes are opened in the breaking of the bread, after which Jesus disappears from their sight. Along the way Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter, and then appeared in the midst of all the disciples.
In quick order, Jesus uses the Hebrew scriptures to demonstrate “…the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to all nations…(Luke24:46-47), combining instruction with the Great Commission.
And that is a task that requires all of us to work together. It would have been helpful if there had been an Old Testament book called something like “Here Comes Jesus!” that stated all this stuff exactly. Oh, it’s all there, but not in so many words. The first Christians had no New Testament. They found everything they needed in the Hebrew scriptures. But it required interpretation, Remember Jesus in his hometown synagogue, laboriously unrolling the Isaiah scroll and interpreting a passage about the Jubilee to refer to him? That’s what the first church did, together. And we’re safest when we interpret together. We act as a set of checks and balances against wild and unscriptural interpretation.
To conclude, Jesus ascends to heaven the day he is resurrected! That is quite different from the Book of Acts. But Acts has a different aim in mind. Remember — these two accounts were written by the same author. It’s like telling the same story but with a different point to make. What’s the point in Acts? See above.
In Acts, we are instructed through scripture and the experience of Jesus to be about the work of the kingdom, empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. This is more important than worrying about the return of Christ.
In the passage from Ephesians, it is made clear that in ascending, Jesus is to be seen as reigning above all other powers and authorities, and in our case, priorities.
Luke emphasizes all this is happening in accordance with the Hebrew scriptures, and invited all to continue interpreting, as we go about the work which the Holy Spirit is sending us on. Circumstances change. The word of God instructs in all ages.
Acts 1:1-11
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus ascends to heaven the day he is resurrected! That is quite different from the Book of Acts. But Acts has a different aim in mind. Remember — these two accounts were written by the same author. It’s like telling the same story but with a different point to make. What’s the point in Acts?
Jesus hangs around for forty days, which is a number filled with Biblical significance. It calls to mind the forty years in the desert that the people wandered, the forty days on Mount Sinai when Moses met God, and the forty days in the wilderness that Jesus fasted and endured temptation. In a way, this is how the new Israel is created, in the time of instruction which will empower the disciples who are told by Jesus, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (1:8)
At the very end of this time, one of the disciples asks Jesus “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.”
This is the question many believers ask every time there are wars, rumors of war, or maybe, let’s say, a pandemic! Is this the time? Jesus spoke clearly to them and to us — “It’s not for you to know!”
It’s striking that right after the ascension, the apostles continue to look to heaven, almost as if they think Jesus will return immediately, but they are scolded by angels to do what Jesus told them to do. We too are not to stare into the heavens or try to calculate the date of the end of the world. We are sent out to the world, like they were, to do the Master’s work. What that is might change from era to era. Last year a lot of folks served the Lord by making masks, others by retooling factories to make vital machines. Jesus may have very different work for us to do this day. Interpreting scripture together, listening to the Holy Spirit, responding with joy and energy, is what we are to be about.
Ephesians 1:15-23
Preach from Ephesians on Ascension Day? Wouldn’t you rather select the texts from either Acts or the Gospel of Luke, which actually describe the ascension, as the text for your message, even if you do may have to navigate your way through the differences in the two accounts?
But if you’re game, so are we. This passage is a single sentence, perhaps indicative of the fact that letters were dictated to a professional scribe, not usually handwritten by the sender. The apostle is evidently on a roll, and the images just slide off the tongue.
In this rolling passage the apostle gives thanks for the Ephesians and prays they grow in knowledge of hope, inheritance, and power, to build them up. But the portion central to our celebration of the ascension speaks about what it means for Christ to be raised, not only from the dead, but to the heavenly places. Being seated at the right hand, much as we see in Daniel 7, demonstrates that Jesus is above all worldly powers. The words authority, power, dominion, and names refer not only to worldly authorities, but to any other heavenly beings, whether infernal, heavenly, or in the mind of some people in that age, neutral daemonsnot sure if this is the right word?. Despite the shocking degradation of crucifixion and burial, the risen Jesus is now reigning above all things in power and glory. For those of us who are believers, there can be no other enthroned to whom we give allegiance.
Luke 24:44-53
The story of the Ascension in Luke is compact and precise. The resurrected Jesus appears to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus who at first do not recognize him, but at last their eyes are opened in the breaking of the bread, after which Jesus disappears from their sight. Along the way Jesus had appeared to Simon Peter, and then appeared in the midst of all the disciples.
In quick order, Jesus uses the Hebrew scriptures to demonstrate “…the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to all nations…(Luke24:46-47), combining instruction with the Great Commission.
And that is a task that requires all of us to work together. It would have been helpful if there had been an Old Testament book called something like “Here Comes Jesus!” that stated all this stuff exactly. Oh, it’s all there, but not in so many words. The first Christians had no New Testament. They found everything they needed in the Hebrew scriptures. But it required interpretation, Remember Jesus in his hometown synagogue, laboriously unrolling the Isaiah scroll and interpreting a passage about the Jubilee to refer to him? That’s what the first church did, together. And we’re safest when we interpret together. We act as a set of checks and balances against wild and unscriptural interpretation.
To conclude, Jesus ascends to heaven the day he is resurrected! That is quite different from the Book of Acts. But Acts has a different aim in mind. Remember — these two accounts were written by the same author. It’s like telling the same story but with a different point to make. What’s the point in Acts? See above.
