The Ascension
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He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
The Ascension of Jesus
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
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“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
Today we are looking into the presentation of Jesus at the temple. Officially it is the end of the festive season! In some countries people take their decorations down at this time. It is thirty three days after Jesus’ circumcision. We read about that ritual in Leviticus 12.
Drama: Dave learns about Ascension
KB: Welcome, Dave what day was it 3 days ago?
Dave: Thursday…Your Birthday, Chelsea won Cup? I give up.
KB: Can anyone help him out [congregation] Yes….Ascension Day. What’s Ascension Day Dave?
Dave: I give up.
KB: Any one else know? [Congregation respond] …. Ascension Day…
KB: The ascension doesn't feature large in many Christians' lives. Yet it's the last memory the disciples would have had of Jesus - such a powerful memory. There would have been a touch of sadness (being left alone and seeing Jesus go), also a touch of excitement (promise of Holy Spirit to come).
Dave: I have heard of it now that you mention it.
KB: So what happened after that?
Dave: Jesus told them to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit.
KB: Go and wait!! Jesus did have a funny way of saying things. How can you go and wait? It’s like saying get on with it, but not yet.
Dave: Yes, that’s cause the Holy Spirit is the helper that we need after Jesus ascended.
KB: How long did they have to wait?
Dave: More than a week, Thursday to the following Sunday, do the Maths - 10 days, I think
KB: So Pentecost is 10 days after the Ascension? How long was The Ascension after the resurrection?
Dave: Not sure, can anyone help me? [Congregation respond – 40 days]
KB: So 40 plus 10 is 50 and 50 in Greek is Penteconta
Dave: Ok, show off!! So you can do maths! And speak Greek…it’s all jibberish to me!
KB: I’m not showing off, it’s just that Jesus was crucified at Passover and the Passover was about the killing of a lamb without blemish to save the Jews from the plague of death before the Exodus.
Dave: Wow, Jesus is our Lamb of God.
KB: That’s right and 50 days after the first Pentecost way back in the days of Moses, God gave the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai.
Dave: So, 50 days after Jesus, the lamb of God died and arose from the dead, God promised to send the Helper, the Holy Spirit.
KB: You're learning fast Dave. After Jesus ascended, they needed the Helper, the power of the Spirit inside them (and us). The gift of grace rather than the burden of keeping the Law.
Dave: So that’s what they were waiting for after the ascension.
KB: And after Pentecost, the Disciples were transformed by the Holy Spirit.
Dave: Yeah, but he’s Jesus and they were disciples, I’m just Dave - a puppet.
KB: But Dave, don’t you see? That’s it.
Dave: What’s it?
KB: They were just fishermen
Dave: And I’m just a puppet
KB: And I’m just an Edjit but the Helper, the Holy Spirit is the same as having Jesus with us and in us. His words, his power
Dave: His likeness.
KB: His witnesses. Luke tells the ascension story in a way that calls ‘us’ to be witnesses. We may not all be evangelists but we are all called to be witnesses. To tell what we know about our Saviour and ‘to introduce people to Jesus.’ [Witnesses speak from personal experience]. If we risk inviting people to church or things that are going on like study groups we are sharing the Love of Jesus in this parish, schools work, Older peoples ministry Etc…
Dave: So the disciples were ordinary
KB: Yep, and at the very moment, the disciples thought they needed Jesus, he ascended in a cloud into heavens. But, though he had gone physically, he was with them always. They didn't know what the future held, but they knew the one who held the future. The ascension meant these disciples would have to take up the baton and run with it. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things through the Holy Spirit.
(See Acts 2v4, 4v8, 9v17, 13v9).
Dave: So we are ordinary and the Holy Spirit helps us do extraordinary things for God.
KB: So true. The time of the visible resurrection was unique. Just 40 days and now it was coming to an end. Think about it the resurrection appearances could not just peter out!
Dave: I’m not Peter. I’m Dave
KB: No Dave, the resurrection appearances could not just peter out!
Dave: I’m not Peter. I’m Dave
KB: I know you are Dave, but the end of that period had to be definite and the ascension was the disciples’ final proof that Jesus had returned to glory.
Dave: Amen, shall we sing about that?
KB: What shall we sing?
Dave: What about that one…..Praise the Father, Praise the Son, Praise the Spirit, three in one.
KB: Do we know that one? Let’s sing it.
Ascension Day Quiz
1. What day of the week is Ascension day? Thursday
2. What does Ascension Day celebrate? Christ’s Coronation, the day he ascended into heaven.
3. How long did Jesus remain on earth before he ascended to heaven? 40 days
4. how many days are there between ascension and Pentecost? 10 days
5. As Jesus ascended what hit him from their eyes? A Cloud
6. Tension is recorded in two places in the scriptures – Luke 24 is one - what other book and chapter of the Bible records the ascension? Acts 1
7. Luke 24:50 Says the ascension happened in the vicinity of Bethany. Where does Acts 1 say it happened? Mount of Olives
8. Where did the disciples go immediately after the ascension? Jerusalem
9. What did Jesus do for the people as he ascended? Blessed them
10. In the C of E what is the Liturgical colour of Ascension Day? White
11. How many of the Historic Church Creeds mention the Ascension? Three. Athanasian Creed, Nicene Creed, Apostles Creed.
12. Why is Ascension Island so named? It was discovered on Ascension Day 1503.
