The Ascension of Jesus

Seventh Sunday of Easter

June 5th 2011


It may seem quite strange to us that we would want to celebrate Jesus’ Ascension. Why? Because it’s all about an ending. A sad ending? Yes, goodbyes are difficult and sad. Jesus’ Ascension means the end of a beautiful relationship between Jesus and those who loved Him. So why should we celebrate this day?
Try to imagine yourself in the position of an early disciple of Jesus. You, along with the rest of the disciples, walk with Jesus; you hear His inspiring message proclaimed from the synagogues and hillsides; you touch him and are touched by him; and you witnessed the marvelous effect he has on everyone he meets. Gradually, you find yourself captivated by this man and his message. You find in him the answer to all your hopes and dreams, and you are certain that in this man from Nazareth you have discovered true freedom, joy, peace, love, and fullness of life.
But then you see the horror of Calvary: Jesus, whom you so deeply loved, stretched out against the sky, nailed to a beam of wood, carrying all your dreams and hopes along with him to his death. You and so many who believed in Him run away in fear -- shattered, hopeless, convinced that all He promised was a sham, a lie, or at the very least a terrible mistake.
But then comes Easter. Suddenly you have the overwhelming experience of Jesus present again, alive and truly with you -- in fact, even more truly with you than He was before. He is risen! Even death is conquered in this man! Incredible joy and peace surge into your heart, and you run from your place of hiding, shouting from the rooftops: "He's alive! Everything He told us is true!"
But only a short while later, that feeling of joy and peace is gone, as you watch our Lord rising up through the clouds. What will you do now? He is gone! But, did He have to go? Jesus’ ascension into heaven was an important part of his ministry, for if he had not returned to the Father, he could not have sent the promise gift of the Holy Spirit (John 16:5-15)
This is why we celebrate His departure, because His return to the Father establishes a new bond between heaven and earth and by sending the Holy Spirit, Jesus fulfils his promise to remain with us always. So the choice is yours, will you just stand there staring at the sky, dumbfounded, or will you become witnesses to the good news of Jesus Christ?

Reading 1 Acts 1:1-11

1 In the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught 2 until the day he was taken up, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them by many proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While meeting with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for "the promise of the Father about which you have heard me speak; 5 for John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 When they had gathered together they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight. 10 While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. 11 They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

Question for Discussion:

How important to you is Jesus’ second coming? How important should it be? Why?


Reading II Ephesians 1:17-23

17 Brothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. 18 May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in accord with the exercise of his great might, 20 which he worked in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens, 21 far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion, and every name that is named not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

Question for Discussion:

1. But what three things did they seem to be weak on which were the focus of his prayer?

2. What does Paul specifically mean by HOPE, RICHES, and POWER?

3. What does this prayer mean to you? Continue praying this prayer between now and your next meeting and share the fruits of doing so.



Gospel Matthew 28: 16-20

16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. 18 Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Questions for Discussion:

The Gospel reading ends with the words that are the very last words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

1. Why should these words fill us with joy, no matter what our current circumstances are? What steps can you take to be more open to Jesus’ presence during the day?

2. If you were one of the disciples, how would you have felt about Jesus leaving?
1) Terrified 2) confused 3) abandoned 4) angry 5) excited about what was ahead

3. What chance would you have given the followers of Jesus at this point, to change the world?
1) a lot 2) a little 3) some 4) none

4.What holds you back from spreading the word about Jesus?
1) Lack of knowledge 2) Lack of concern 3) Lack of courage 4) Nothing, I plan on doing it

5. How has your spiritual life been going lately?
1) I've been in the pits. 2) I've been questioning Jesus. 3) I've been looking heavenward
4) I’ve been in a cloud (on a high).