For our sake he suffered under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scripture;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Nicene Creed
We have all shared in a variety of Lenten devotions down through the years, meditated in various ways on the passion; rejoiced at Easter (and caught up with seven weeks of chocolate abstinence in one go!) But for many years Ascension Day observance seemed to be absent from most Methodist communities (despite the inclusion of two collects in the Methodist Worship Book, and a hymn from Charles Wesley – StF 300); until Thy Kingdom Come invited the churches to pray together from Ascension to Pentecost.
The Lost Words was published recently to introduce children with a language that has dropped out of common usage. So, the OUP junior dictionary dispensed with ‘moss’, ‘blackberry’ and ‘bluebell’, and in came ‘blog’, ‘chatroom’ and ‘database’ among others.
As I reflected on lost words and ideas, it stuck me that we also have lost words: we lack the notions and conceptions of the early church in describing Jesus’ physical return to heaven. It is easier to refer to space travel, and of contact with family half-way round the world, than to contemplate Christ’s ascension. Yet the essence of ascension is contained in John 14:26:
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.
Isaac Villegas describes it like this:
When Jesus withdraws from his followers and ascends into heaven, he becomes present in another sense—present on earth through our lives, present through and in us. Christ gives his body through the church. “God has made Jesus the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all,” says Ephesians. After the ascension, we are the body of Jesus.[i]
One of the most important lessons of lock-down due to the Covid19 virus, is the reminder that we are the body of Christ even when we cannot meet physically. And the Gospel reading for Ascension, is a reflection on truth, belief and belonging. It sits within an extended passage, usually called the High Priestly Prayer, where Jesus is explaining the coming days to the disciples, and praying for them.
First of all, this is a prayer witnessing to Jesus’ divine authority, and affirming that the revelation Jesus gives to us from God through his words and actions can be trusted. This is God’s beloved Son, who has suffered desertion, torture and death, but raised to new life, now offers life to us all. But Jesus takes the disciples then and now, beyond the resurrection, into abundant life.
One of the hymn writers, Hugh Bourne, addresses his hymn to the Risen Lord, and in doing so, draws the faithful to worship of the Risen Lord.
Life-imparting, heavenly Manna,
stricken Rock with streaming side,
heaven and earth with loud hosanna
worship thee, the Lamb who died,
Alleluia! Risen, ascended, glorified!
Ascension Day is a timely reminder in the Church calendar of the four constituents of Christian mission: it speaks of the Ascended Lord, the Holy Spirit, the disciples and the mandate to witness. But just in case that stills seems to be beyond a situation of lock-down, here is another fabulous New Testament prayer:
15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
20God 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, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23
[i] https://mailchi.mp/christiancentury.org/faith-after-ascension-348287?e=815ac9f11a
Worship at home 