Ascension Sunday
The Biblical accounts of the ascension Jesus are unique to Luke, and are found in the opening chapter of The Book of Acts in his address to "Theophilus," and in the closing verses of his gospel, The Gospel of Luke.
The Biblical accounts of the ascension Jesus are unique to Luke, and are found in the opening chapter of The Book of Acts in his address to "Theophilus," and in the closing verses of his gospel, The Gospel of Luke.
Luke 24:51 merely reads, “51 While [Jesus] was blessing [the disciples], he left them, and was taken up into heaven.”
Acts 1:9-11 offers up a more detailed description: " 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Verse 10 and 11 read, “10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
A similar cloud was present at the event on what is known in the gospels as the Mount of Transfiguration, referred to in Mark 9:7: "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: 'This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!' "
When Jesus was present with his disciples, he was their teacher and a role-model, but in his physical absence, it is understood that it is to be the people who are to be the teachers, the role-models and the difference-makers. When Jesus was present, his followers were relatively passive, but in his physical absence his followers are to be active. This was a message for Luke and his readers in the first century and it is a message for us in the 21st century. Fixing our eyes on the sky, as the disciples did in Acts 1:10 is passive, but being about the business of the Kingdom on a regular and daily basis is active.
Just like in his gospel, Luke notes in the Book of Acts that he is writing to Theophilus. Theologians and scholars are somewhat divided on this, because they know that Theophilus translates into "lover of God." They aren’t sure if it’s a reference to a person named Theophilus, or if it’s written to any person who is a lover of God, which would mean that it was written for people of every generation that are lovers of God, including you and me.
In Acts 1:3, there is what we will call this morning a forty days reference: “3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
Just as Lent is a forty day period before Easter, the time between Easter and the Ascension in Luke is forty days. This morning, we're celebrating Ascension Sunday, but it’s more appropriately a Thursday event, according to the calendar. At any rate, there are a variety of numbers in the bible that have symbolic significance. For example, 7 was a sacred number among the Hebrews. The 7th day, or Sabbath, was connected with creation. There are dozens of references to 7 in the ritual and festive life of the Hebrews throughout the Old Testament. It also occurs frequently in the writings of the prophets, and in the book of Revelation. The number 12 is also held in special regard. Twelve had significance due to the 12 divisions of the lunar year into months, and was used for organizational purposes in a variety of ways including dividing Israel into 12 tribes, and Jesus choosing 12 disciples.
Just as Lent is a forty day period before Easter, the time between Easter and the Ascension in Luke is forty days. This morning, we're celebrating Ascension Sunday, but it’s more appropriately a Thursday event, according to the calendar. At any rate, there are a variety of numbers in the bible that have symbolic significance. For example, 7 was a sacred number among the Hebrews. The 7th day, or Sabbath, was connected with creation. There are dozens of references to 7 in the ritual and festive life of the Hebrews throughout the Old Testament. It also occurs frequently in the writings of the prophets, and in the book of Revelation. The number 12 is also held in special regard. Twelve had significance due to the 12 divisions of the lunar year into months, and was used for organizational purposes in a variety of ways including dividing Israel into 12 tribes, and Jesus choosing 12 disciples.
Likewise, forty is understood throughout the bible to be a time of testing and preparation during which God fully instructs people for their future work. Moses was up on Mount Sinai for forty days as he waited for the Ten Commandments. The Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years until they were enabled and allowed to enter the Promised Land. In I Kings 19:7-13, the prophet Elijah spends forty days on Mount Horeb in preparation for hearing "God's voice." In Luke 4:1-13, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days before he begins his public ministry.
One minister noted that, in Acts, forty days seems to be a code that refers to an extended period of preparation and examination of the followers of Jesus for the difficult time ahead. However, in verse 6, someone asks, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" And the question was basically asking, "Jesus, will you make our dreams come true?" They thought that the re-establishment of Israel's political and military might would enable the world, at least their world, to be filled with peace, prosperity and justice. It is kind of like a lottery mentality. I am ready to receive wealth and I am ready to spend the wealth but I don't really want to do more than pick some numbers or scratch a card to develop the wealth.
In our biblical passage, those asking the question were saying in essence, "Jesus, we are ready to receive the kingdom and we are ready to enjoy it, but we really don't want to do anything more than follow you around with "ooh's and ah's" in bringing the kingdom about." Their question revealed their passive posture.
The answer from Jesus moves their focus from being passive to being active. He says, in essence, "Don't worry about such details but think about what you can do that will bring about a transformation from 'what is' to what 'can be.'" This can be an internal transformation or an external transformation. But the external probably won't change until the internal has changed. This is why the Christian message always starts with personal dynamics like repentance and forgiveness and then moves on to larger issues like peace and justice. Jesus seems to be saying that I will not give you the "kingdom" immediately, but if you change your hearts; work at changing your world, then you will help usher in the "kingdom." Jesus moves them from a passive stance to an active orientation. He notes that the Holy Spirit available to him will be available to them as well. And, of course, we’re reminded in Ephesians 4:7-13 of the gifts he graced humanity with when he ascended: "7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train, and gave gifts to humanity." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
He gave us the keys to the kingdom. Have we put them in the lock, and turned them yet? We have the tools and the ability; are we letting them gather dust and rust? He gave us our gifts and graces for a reason. Are we being passive with them, or active?
Moving from a passive position in life to an active one can surprise and confuse those around us, initially. We see this in the Pentecost story in the 2nd chapter of Acts. A change in our approach to our faith will eventually bring positive change to the world around us, but usually not before others are first a bit shocked and confused.
The Ascension verses are about change that might initially shock those around us. As noted at the onset of this message, the Ascension narratives are not focusing on what happened to Jesus as much as they were helping the early church understand what it is to be doing in the absence of the physical presence of Jesus. The verses are descriptive of the disciples emerging from their shock and grief over the death of Jesus. When Jesus was present his followers were relatively passive, but in his physical absence his followers are to be active. This was a message for Luke and his readers in the first century and it is a message for us in the 21st century. Fixing our eyes on the sky, as the disciples did in Acts 1:10 is passive, but the Lord doesn't want us to be so heavenly-minded that we're no earthly good! He wants us to be active in our faith...
In our biblical passage, those asking the question were saying in essence, "Jesus, we are ready to receive the kingdom and we are ready to enjoy it, but we really don't want to do anything more than follow you around with "ooh's and ah's" in bringing the kingdom about." Their question revealed their passive posture.
The answer from Jesus moves their focus from being passive to being active. He says, in essence, "Don't worry about such details but think about what you can do that will bring about a transformation from 'what is' to what 'can be.'" This can be an internal transformation or an external transformation. But the external probably won't change until the internal has changed. This is why the Christian message always starts with personal dynamics like repentance and forgiveness and then moves on to larger issues like peace and justice. Jesus seems to be saying that I will not give you the "kingdom" immediately, but if you change your hearts; work at changing your world, then you will help usher in the "kingdom." Jesus moves them from a passive stance to an active orientation. He notes that the Holy Spirit available to him will be available to them as well. And, of course, we’re reminded in Ephesians 4:7-13 of the gifts he graced humanity with when he ascended: "7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train, and gave gifts to humanity." 9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
He gave us the keys to the kingdom. Have we put them in the lock, and turned them yet? We have the tools and the ability; are we letting them gather dust and rust? He gave us our gifts and graces for a reason. Are we being passive with them, or active?
Moving from a passive position in life to an active one can surprise and confuse those around us, initially. We see this in the Pentecost story in the 2nd chapter of Acts. A change in our approach to our faith will eventually bring positive change to the world around us, but usually not before others are first a bit shocked and confused.
The Ascension verses are about change that might initially shock those around us. As noted at the onset of this message, the Ascension narratives are not focusing on what happened to Jesus as much as they were helping the early church understand what it is to be doing in the absence of the physical presence of Jesus. The verses are descriptive of the disciples emerging from their shock and grief over the death of Jesus. When Jesus was present his followers were relatively passive, but in his physical absence his followers are to be active. This was a message for Luke and his readers in the first century and it is a message for us in the 21st century. Fixing our eyes on the sky, as the disciples did in Acts 1:10 is passive, but the Lord doesn't want us to be so heavenly-minded that we're no earthly good! He wants us to be active in our faith...
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