The Ascension
2007 September 22
In one of his books, Philip Yancey said that the most perplexing part of Jesus’ story is the ascension. Why, having been crucified and raised, did he leave?
Wouldn’t it have made more sense for him to stay? Wouldn’t people have followed him in droves? Wouldn’t the world look much different if the Resurrected One remained among us?
Yet God has always had this plan: to form a people who will be a light to the nations and who will join him in restoring the world. So . . . Jesus ascended to the Father and yet remains among us through the Spirit.
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I trip up on the story metaphorically. I think part of the problem stems from the difficulties arising when we apply spacial metaphors to God. That is, Jesus goes UP? And what does that mean? Up where? Up, up, and up? Is heaven up? Do we “descend” into hell? Is God everywhere? Co-present even with evil?
It’s all quite baffling.
Mike, are you a premillennialist? This is not a criticism, I was just wondering in light of other statements you have made.
I would much rather walk by sight, this faith thing is hard.
I agree with Yancey. I’ve struggled with this for years. Why would he leave? I can’t come up with a good answer.
The ascension is a vital historical truth about Jesus. Luke 24 : 50 – 53. And from a doctrinal standpoint , crucial . He has ascended and is at the right of God and now intercedes for us. Hebrews 7 : 26 – 28.He is now our advocate. I John 2 : 1 and 2. So much of what we believe centers on His ascension.
I have wandered, also, as to why Jesus left when he did. At the time at which the foundation was built with his followers, he just leaves, even though he promises another will come. Since he was not around to continue to teach and lead, I have often wandered if the organized church that developed over the next few decades under the leadership of the apostles was what Jesus actually had in mind when he left them. Did he come to establish a new religious structure, or did he come to show us how to live holy lives before God, sans any religious organization?
Richard,
You bring up good sub-questions. Scripture states that there is no place that God is not, and that nothing exists that God did not make, and that He will punish the ungodly. Are we to conclude then that God will be (or is) present, with all of the captive evil, in a Hell that He created, and be personally present to punish, for all eternity?
I have always why Jesus waited until he was 30 years old to start his God-ordained vocation? Here he was, a single Jewish male (we assume), with all those strong women around (Mary his mother, and Elizabeth his cousin). All those yentas and matchmakers that Mary had to protect him from for way past his betrothal time! No wonder she’d had it by the time they went to Cana for that wedding. And apparently he was a respected rabbi. Perhaps because at that age in those times a 30-year old guy had more maturity and wisdom than if he had been 10 years younger when he started on that journey through the desert and to the cross.
And yes, once he began his ‘ministry’ (surely he had one as a rabbi), why could God not keep him here on earth for longer than 3 years? Was his time shortened because of the political climate and relationship between the Roman Empire and the Jewish leadership/communities?
He seemed frustrated enough with his disciple that they just couldn’t ‘get it’. They did not appear to understand that earthly positions, fame, and riches were not the answer. He struggled to get them to comprehend that real faith was based on the unseen, not the seen. They seemed to glory in the seen proofs of his miracles, but non-Jews did not need to see to believe – (the Samaritan woman and the people of Sychar, John 4.4-42; one of Herod’s officials, who pleaded with Jesus to heal his dying son, John 4.43-54). Maybe he performed the Ascension for their eyes only, to get them fully onboard with the big picture? If he were to come back to earth for a longer stay, then maybe this new movement and the Great Commission never would have taken off.
Just speculating… and exhibiting how my ignorance can be bliss – or just plain perplexing!
In John 14 through 17 Jesus seemed to say that the counselor couldn’t come until he left. Is there something in the “indwelling” of the Spirit that speaks to the necessity of his ascension? I believe he actually said we would be better off once he left because of this help from the Spirit.
If we don’t grasp the Spirit’s work, maybe we aren’t prepared to understand the need for an ascension.
I was always found that the statement Jesus made to Mary Magdalene was very telling of his ascension. “Why do you cling to me?”
From a missional viewpoint, being sent out is an important part of God’s people for the coming of the Kingdom. Perhaps if Jesus was around today… bodily… we would spend more time clinging and waiting rather than mission focused. What do you think?
vapor
As Christians we should be excited about the Holy Spirit dwelling with us. The comforter. The one that is greater than he who is in the world. The one who guides us. Praise God for the indwelling Spirit and let us long for Christ return.
vapor wrote:
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Perhaps if Jesus was around today… bodily… we would spend more time clinging and waiting rather than mission focused. What do you think?
vapor
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Now that you mention it, I know I would. His absence is the very thing that ensures that my work in the kingdom is necessary, useful, and meaningful.
Nice shot, vapor.
qb
Vapor,
What is meant by “coming of the Kingdom?”
Jesus said that it was necessary for Him to go to the Father so that He could pray that the Holy Ghost be given in fullness as He was/is. If Jesus had remained on Earth, the Kingdom would have been geographically centered on where He was rather than going out into all the world. We have fellowship one with another because of Christ in us through the Spirit. A slow read through John 17 can turn the contemporary ideas about the Indwelling on their ears! By the Spirit, we are in Christ, Christ in the Father, and Christ in us! If you ever think you have a handle on that, read a few pages of St. Macarius the Egyptian. That old guy made the medieval mystics look like novices, (and he’s easer to read, too!)
The coolest part is that Jesus, at the right hand of the Father, is not exalted as highly yet as He is going to be, but still every knee shall bow, every tongue confess to Him, to the glory of the Father, and as He inherits all things He has prayed that we be with Him where He is, so, like Peter wrote, “What manner of people ought we to be in all holy living and godliness?” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
I imagine our world look drastically different if he would have remained…although my first thought when I read this is that this is where faith comes in. If he were still here, would we believe in Him as much if He were walking among us? I don’t know…
I think it makes our ministry and belief more meaningful in some ways-though in other ways we can look crazy to believe and base our whole life on something that we have never seen for ourselves. The mystery is appealing and scary all at the same time…
Instead of Him remaining in one place and people flocking to Him, we have been given the gift and task of taking Him wherever we go and sharing Him with the world. I love that He dwells within us-the light can shine out of us into the darkness. I think you might have a point, vapor…
It is really hard to fathom and understand. There are times I would love for Him to literally be here right beside me, while other times I would be ashamed. Praise God that He is up there to help intercede for us and continues to guide us through His Spirit…
This is such a fascinating discussion, thanks Mike! In light of the comments so far, I thought you might find it interesting that, in my church, our Collect for today (it’s Sunday here) is the following:
God, the giver of life,
Whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
By the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ
And make us eager to do your will,
That we may share with the whole creation
The joys of eternal life;
Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
Who is alive and reigns with you,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever.
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This Sunday our focus has been on inviting and welcoming friends in the village who have not been to church in a while (or at all). We fellowship quite a lot, but it would be great to meet with and re-introduce many to corporate worship. The work of the Great Commission and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit manifests itself in many ways.
May all be blessed!
IMHO, while Jesus was here, He was limited by His human body, so He had the power & scope of 1 man. (Granted, He had powers greater than 1 man, but I mean that He didn’t fly around to other countries, so He was limited in His travelling abilities…..or chose to be limited. Whatever.) Anyway…by ascending into heaven, He could send out His Spirit, thus multiplying His power on Earth. First to the 12 Apostles, and then by them making more discliples. Which is why He gave us the ‘Great Commission’. He left it to us to take His spirit to those who need it.
I think more emphasis on the Ascension and current intercession of Christ would lead us to ask not only WWJD? but also WIJD? What Is Jesus Doing?
Richard B. is right about metaphors and the things of God. We just have to go with it for now. It’s when people don’t realize the inadequacy of language that we get into trouble. And what does that say, so to speak, about the condescension of God; that he would speak to us?
Chris – no, I’m not.
As perplexing as the ascension is/was, I find it more perplexing that were all still waiting on whatever the renewal of all things or Second Coming may be. What need is there for the world to continue in its tainted state, for random evils to persist, if Christ triumphed over death? Why wait to restore things?
Make that “we’re.”
Of course He’s waiting because He’s not willing any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), but the most impressive thing is that Jesus ascended for the expressed purpose of sending His Spirit, and most people in the churches today would say they’ve never really met Him! Since Jesus said that our knowing His Spirit is the first thing before anything we be or do as the Church (as Christians!), that might be saying something. Something about that at my blog. Look it over and tell me your
But, Robert, wouldn’t people have perished over the past 2000 years?
Jason, I’m not sure where you’re coming from, but from my guess,
People are saved, and people are lost, every day. The point of that passage is that the Lord wants to give each person the opportunity to be saved, and not cut the time short on anyone who might have come to the Truth. One thing that tells us, as we see how desperately evil this world is (One preacher said, 30 years ago, that if God doesn’t bring judgment on the US He’s going to have to apologise to Sodom and Gomorrah!), we know two things. Judgment is coming, and for the effort God with which God is holding it back we need to be all the more diligent to know what the Gospel is, and to be preaching it for all we’re worth.
Robert, my question is why prolong the world in its fallen state, allowing for a growing number of lost people and a growing amount of senseless evil when He could’ve simply renewed all things following Christ’s resurrection?
Jason, I can’t pretend to understand this one any better than you. My only answer is to ask which is more genuinely loving- to allow someone the opportunity to receive and live in His love, or deny them them to have ever existed to protect them from the consequences should they choose to side with His enemies? Not, even, that He sits back and waits for us to figure it out, but He give us each His grace that makes us aware of His goodness, of His call to us, and gives us the grace to respond to that call. Again- not forcing us to respond. That is neither an honest response nor honest love in forcing it; but He gives us every grace to make that our one reasonable response.
Good Day
God is Love, May you experience God’s Love this Day, may we really learn to Praise him in all things 
Lets Share God’s Love today 
You are Loved!