ADD
| After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "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." (Acts1:9-11) |
So when we talk about Ascension Day in our new context, the first thing people say is: "What a pity it isn't a public holiday any more..." But, if pushed, I wonder how many of us would know why the Ascension of Jesus is important to us.
I wonder if we suffer from A.D.D...
(Ascension Deficit Disorder)...
The Ascension is vitally important in God's Salvation Plan. Here are seven key truths about the Ascension:
- Jesus has completed His Priestly Ministry: He sits at God's right hand.
His sacrifice was sufficient. Our sins are completely forgiven. There is nothing more that needs to be done. - He has taken our humanity into heaven - Paul tells us that Jesus is the "firstfruit" of the resurrection. We won't be disembodied spirits floating on clouds. We'll have bodies, but we won't be limited by time and space. And, most importantly, Jesus does not discard His humanity - He is "not a high priest who is unfamiliar with our struggles" (Heb.4:15)
- Jesus sends the Holy Spirit - The Risen and Ascended Lord Jesus, having cleansed and forgiven us, sends His Spirit into our hearts so that we can experience Christ's presence from within and His power can work in and through us.
- He entrusts His work (making disciples) to us - Our lives have meaning and purpose. We are God's co-workers and He includes us in His work of reaching the world.
- Jesus intercedes in prayer for us - Jesus, having experienced our humanity, prays for us. He knows hunger, tiredness, betrayal, pain, heartache and loss. What incredible prayers these must be.
- He prepares a place for us - It's an incredible thought that Jesus, like a gracious host, prepares a place for us. We see this beautifully illustrated when Stephen is stoned. The Ascended Jesus who is seated at the Father's right hand is seen by Stephen - and He is standing to welcome His servant home.
- He will return and will judge the living and the dead - CS Lewis wrote that our longing for justice is proof that heaven exists. We don't always find justice on earth. But Jesus, the righteous Judge, will balance the books and right the wrongs. Either people will accept His forgiveness and His death will pay their debt, or they will have to pay it themselves, but whichever way it goes - Justice will prevail
These great ascension truths should give us reason to rejoice and give thanks.
So maybe instead of having Ascension Deficit Disorder we should ADD:
Add thanks that He completed the work of our forgiveness
Add hope that He understands our humanity and we have resurrection hope
Add gratitude that His Spirit is in us
Add conviction to share in the work of sharing His love with the world
Add comfort that we are prayed for by Someone who knows our humanity
Add confidence that our place in eternity is secure
Add peace because this broken world will come to an end and a new world is coming
Can I get a Hallelujah?
