Ascension at Dulverton

Ascension Day 2009

Travelling Home to God

 

No one saw Jesus leap down from heaven into the womb of Mary at the Annunciation.

 

No one saw Jesus being raised from the dead leaving the tomb empty at Easter.

 

But, according to Luke (who records the event twice in the Gospel and the Acts), Jesus ascending into heaven (from a place near Bethany) was seen by at least the eleven apostles and possibly by others who kept company with them in the upper room after the crucifixion and resurrection.

 

Luke 24.50-51 “With hands upraised he blessed them. As he blessed them, he left them, and was taken up to heaven”.

Acts 1.9 “He was lifted up before their eyes, in a cloud which took him from their sight”.

 

The Ascension of Our Lord is the second stage of His Resurrection in triumph. Now he returns to heaven, whence he came, and there he takes his seat at the right hand of the Father and shares his power and glory.

 

His promise to us is “I go to prepare a place for you so that where I am you also may be” (John 14.3). The Ascension is about our destiny as well as his. It is about our travelling home to the Father and our participation in resurrection victory and glory. Through his grace in us and with us we too may follow faithfully where he has pioneered.

 

Thanks be to God.