Tag: christ’s ascension

It’s All About Grace (Acts 1:1-5)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment
Jesus and the Apostles, by Bible Art

Theophilus, I first wrote to you about all that Jesus did and taught from the very first until he was taken up to heaven. But before he was taken up, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit.

For 40 days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God’s kingdom. While he was still with them, he said:

Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Contemporary English Version)

One of the unshakable and foundational convictions I have is that the earth revolves on an axis of grace. Apart from grace, we wouldn’t even exist.

If God’s grace in Christ was only an undeserved gift, that would be incredibly wonderful and more than enough for us. Yet, it is even more.

The word “grace” doesn’t need to be in every verse of the Bible for the reality of grace to be embedded within every verse of the Bible.

Grace is the answer to every question that humankind can ask. Grace not only forgives and loves unconditionally, but it also infuses us with freedom and power within our souls.

Grace is the ultimate game-changer. And grace is evident everywhere in Holy Scripture, powering its message and mission. It’s evident in today’s New Testament lesson…

The Grace of God Choosing People

In this biblical passage of Christ’s imminent ascension to heaven, Jesus intentionally made gracious provision so that his apostles could carry on without his bodily presence.

First of all, and priority above the ability to be and to do anything, is the gracious reality that Jesus chose his apostles; they did not choose him. In fact, every disciple of Christ was chosen by God before we made our choice. That, my friend, is grace.

Christ deliberately chose twelve Jewish men to be his intimate followers on this earth during his ministry. No follower and disciple of Christ is ever self-appointed to anything, nor are they really appointed by any committee or by some human means.

What’s more, every church pastor, elder, deacon, and leader of any sort is providentially chosen and appointed by Christ himself well before being chosen by a body of believers in a church, synod, or board.

The Lord’s intentions in choosing people for a specific purpose (and especially for salvation) is first of all a tremendous act of divine grace. This ought to be of great encouragement to us, that Christ who builds the Church, sees us and chooses us.

The Grace of Seeing Jesus

Second, God showed his infinite grace by having Jesus shown to his apostles after his resurrection. The twelve, along with many other disciples, were eyewitnesses to the bodily resurrection of Christ.

After his sufferings, the risen Lord revealed his presence to his apostles. He gave them many convincing and decisive proofs that he was truly alive. And if that wasn’t enough, Jesus kept it up for 40 days until his ascension.

Jesus talked to them about the kingdom of God, about God’s gracious rule and reign upon this earth. He prepared them for the ascension, and helped them make sense of all the nonsensical things happening in their lives. Jesus showed them that he was no ghost, but could be touched, hugged, and enjoy a meal with.

The entire post-resurrection experience was a time of amazing grace in getting to see, feel, and listen to Jesus.

The Grace of Christ’s Commissioning

Third, Jesus not only spoke with his apostles, but he also commissioned them by giving them instructions to proclaim gracious good news of forgiveness and new life with God.

The word “apostle” means to be a herald, an envoy or messenger; being an ambassador sent out with the authority to boldly proclaim good news for the nations. Disciples  are to have a ministry of proclaiming peace and reconciliation between God and humanity, and between one another. Indeed, it is all about grace.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, NIV)

The Grace of Having the Holy Spirit

Finally and ultimately, Jesus promised his apostles the greatest grace gift of all: the very Holy Spirit of God. The Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, would remind them and teach them of all things concerning God’s gracious and benevolent kingdom. (John 16:12ff)

The Holy Spirit is the battery, the power source, of the Christian life. Apart from the Spirit we can do nothing.

The Need For Grace Today

It is imperative that we continually remember grace, and keep grace in the forefront of our minds and our hearts. It’s especially needed in this day and age.

We live in a time in which ungracious and unjust words and actions are in front of our faces continually. The biblical witness is adamant that life is not about having earthly power and wielding it for our own earthly purposes.

Grace is what gives and sustains life. Grace is the real power operative in the world. And if we fail to realize this, and do not tap into grace, then we are truly doomed and are to be pitied above all persons.

So, let us keep bearing in mind that:

  • God’s grace is why we have Jesus and the Holy Spirit
  • The purpose of Jesus is to alert people the presence and eventual fulfillment of God’s gracious realm and reign
  • The Spirit’s presence among us equips us to be Salt to ICE by melting injustice and a lack of mercy; and Light to those blinded by greed by showing the world how to live a different way.

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, so that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Who Is In Control? (Psalm 47)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment
Ascension, by Angela Taylor Perry

Clap your hands, all you peoples;
    shout to God with loud songs of joy.
For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome,
    a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us
    and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves.

God has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the king of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm.

God is king over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted. (New Revised Standard Version)

Who is in control? This is really a big question. We humans seem almost obsessed with the issue of control.

Some people want to be in charge of regulating everything. Others want to exert force over nothing at all. And there are those who continually want to know the clear lines of authority and who is in control, at all times.

Control, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a good thing. Taking charge of a situation – and especially of oneself – is often needed. Leadership that is informed, decisive, humble, true, and right, is a must.

The problem comes whenever we try to exert domination over another person, or attempt to command an organization when it isn’t our responsibility to do so.

Ultimate control of all things belongs to God, and not to you or me. The psalmist is insistent that God is the Ruler of the universe; and that all things belong to the Lord. God’s commands are good.

The Lord’s dominion is known as the kingdom of God. Whenever people are in sync with this reality, then they are able to be joyful and celebrate the good, right, and just Being who is in control.

Yet, if people have problems trusting another; desire to always call the shots on everything; and command everyone; there you will find a host of miserable people – with the one trying to exert control as the most miserable of all.

People, instead, are called to self-control. We are to have charge over our own thoughts and actions. It’s important to have sobriety in our lives in which we can use proper restraint, as well as needed initiative.

Be alert and be of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8, NIV)

In order to get our lines of authority in the proper places, and to participate in the established rhythms of control in the universe, we are commanded to clap, shout, and sing. Because God has ultimate control, divine initiatives are grounded in goodness, justice, righteousness, and deliverance from evil. The Lord has mercifully acted on behalf of people.

The Lord only asks of us to do things that he himself has done. The psalm states that “God has gone up with a shout.” We shout because God shouts. God rules over the nations, and was not simply some local deity that the ancient Israelites served and worshiped. The divine presence is with those who acknowledge God; they will hear the Lord’s shout.

“No misfortune is seen in Jacob,
    no misery observed in Israel.
The Lord their God is with them;
    the shout of the King is among them.
God brought them out of Egypt;
    they have the strength of a wild ox.” (Numbers 23:20-22, NIV)

We are also told to sing. The reason we do so is because the Lord is high above all people, and is king over the nations. This is something we need to say out loud and to sing, and to not only read silently in our heads. Our ears need to listen to the psalm, to hear the praises of God reverberating on our ear drums.

My people, hear my teaching;
    listen to the words of my mouth. (Psalm 78:1, NIV)

It is perfectly appropriate for Christians to use today’s psalm in reflection upon Ascension Day. Jesus has been lifted up into the sky; God has gone up with a shout. The Lord has equipped us for citizenship in the kingdom of God. We have solid grounds for celebration, shouting, and singing. Jesus is our King.

God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church. (Ephesians 1:20-22, NRSV)

Because of Christ’s ascension, believers in Jesus have the memory of the past, the experience of the present, and a hope for the future. With Jesus in control, there is no need for fear, or for trying to gain control for oneself.

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ascension of the Lord (Acts 1:1-11)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year BLeave a comment

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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. 

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

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.” (New International Version)

Ascension Day often feels like the weird stepchild in the family of church events in the Christian Year. It’s often overlooked without ever really being missed.

O sure, there are a few congregations that worship on this Thursday, coming 40 days after Easter Sunday. And a few more churches will observe Christ’s ascension this coming Sunday. Yet, most Christians will go about their usual business; thus, in my opinion, for what it’s worth, missing a grand opportunity.

It’s hugely important that Christ is now presently sitting at God’s right hand, offering continual prayers on our behalf to the Father. Ascension Day teaches us, and reminds us, that we have an advocate, a champion who has gone before us and secured deliverance from sin, death, and hell.

On top of it all, Christ’s ascension to heaven means that Jesus is the universal ruler; he commands a kingdom which will never end. Ascension Day proclaims from the heights of the clouds that Jesus is Lord – which means nothing and no one else is. It is because of his ascension that Jesus can authoritatively grant us repentance, forgiveness, and new life.

Speaking of clouds, the reference to a cloud in Christ’s ascension is not a heavenly elevator with a special pass to the umpteenth floor to be with God. The cloud is meant to be a sign of God’s presence – much like the pillar of cloud for the Israelites in the exodus from Egypt; or like the cloud that surrounded Jesus and his disciples on the mount of transfiguration.

Jesus ascending into the cloud is the divine welcome into the Father’s presence. This is a whole lot more than returning to the status quo of things before Christ’s incarnation. No, everything has changed.

The life, ministry, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ makes the ascension possible – and now Jesus is enthroned at the right hand of God. Jesus has permanently impacted the world. The dark forces and the demonic powers of this world have been stripped of their control.

Through humiliation, Christ has been exalted. Jesus gladly bore the shame and rejection that was ours. We now have spiritual freedom and are no longer in bondage to sin, death, and hell.

The stage is set for Pentecost and the giving of the Spirit. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. God’s Spirit is moving in the world to bring a new thing: the birth of the Church and the mystical union of Christ and his Church.

Every good spiritual thing comes through patience and faith; we must wait and trust in God’s good promise. The disciples, of course, saw no need for this waiting thing. They were ready for a restoration of everything immediately.

Unfortunately, their idea of restoration was an old-style sort of kingdom, very hierarchical with themselves in control and calling the shots. These apostles needed to discover what the rule and reign of God was actually all about. It’s not a turning back of the clock to the good old days.

Rather, it’s in doing away with the dark shadows of old ruling oppressions and allowing the divine light of Christ to shine into the world so that hearts are transformed and justice for all is the norm. In other words, all things are being redeemed.

By God’s grace, the Church and all believers will be steadfast in proclaiming good news, teaching the words and ways of Jesus, loving one another, and serving with the model given to us by Christ. The ascension and glorification of Jesus makes this possible.

So, this is a day in which Christian churches and believers are to shake off their collective spiritual A.D.D. (Ascension Deficit Disorder) and stop staring up in the sky, slack-jawed and shoulders hunched. Hopefully, no angels will come along and ask us what we’re doing just standing there.

Jesus will come back when he comes back. You and I aren’t going to know when. Now is the time to get busy with what Jesus just told us to do two minutes ago: Tell everyone about me.

Christians since the time of the ascension have been proclaiming Christ crucified, died, risen, ascended, and coming again. This is a day of joy and celebration for us. Jesus is our ascended and glorified king! The fate of the earth is with the benevolent and mighty Ruler of all. Jesus is Lord!

The great Reformed Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, question and answer 49, states the following question and answer:

How does Christ’s ascension to heaven benefit us?

First, he is our advocate

            in heaven

            in the presence of his Father.

Second, we have our own flesh in heaven

            as a sure pledge that Christ our head

            will also take us, his members,

            up to himself.

Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth

            as a corresponding pledge.

            By the Spirit’s power

                        we seek not earthly things

                        but the things above, where Christ is,

                                    sitting at God’s right hand.

Amen.

Slow Down (2 Kings 2:1-12)

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Christian Spirituality Blog, Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year ALeave a comment

Not long before the Lord took Elijah up into heaven in a strong wind, Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “The Lord wants me to go to Bethel, but you must stay here.”

Elisha replied, “I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I will stay with you no matter what!” And he went with Elijah to Bethel.

A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take away your master?”

“Yes, I do,” Elisha answered. “But don’t remind me of it.”

Elijah then said, “Elisha, now the Lord wants me to go to Jericho, but you must stay here.”

Elisha replied, “I swear by the living Lord and by your own life, that I will stay with you no matter what!” And he went with Elijah to Jericho.

A group of prophets who lived there asked Elisha, “Do you know that today the Lord is going to take away your master?”

“Yes, I do,” Elisha answered. “But don’t remind me of it.”

Elijah then said to Elisha, “Now the Lord wants me to go to the Jordan River, but you must stay here.”

Elisha replied, “I swear by the living Lord and by your own life that I will never leave you!” So the two of them walked on together.

Fifty prophets followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho, then stood at a distance and watched as the two men walked toward the river. When they got there, Elijah took off his coat, then he rolled it up and struck the water with it. At once a path opened up through the river, and the two of them walked across on dry ground.

After they had reached the other side, Elijah said, “Elisha, the Lord will soon take me away. What can I do for you before that happens?”

Elisha answered, “Please give me twice as much of your power as you give the other prophets, so I can be the one who takes your place as their leader.”

“It won’t be easy,” Elijah answered. “It can happen only if you see me as I am being taken away.”

Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking, when suddenly there appeared between them a flaming chariot pulled by fiery horses. At once, a strong wind took Elijah up into heaven. Elisha saw this and shouted, “Israel’s cavalry and chariots have taken my master away!” After Elijah had gone, Elisha tore his clothes in sorrow. (Contemporary English Version)

“For fast-acting relief from stress, try slowing down.”

Lily Tomlin

In placing today’s Old Testament lesson of Elijah ascending to heaven in a whirlwind next to yesterday’s New Testament lesson of Christ’s ascension, the Revised Common Lectionary wants us to consider the relationship between the two.

What goes up, must come down. Two people ascending to heaven will eventually descend back to the earth.

But why all this elapsed time? If there’s something left yet to be done, why not just do it then? Or right now?

Ah, but there’s the issue. In asking such questions, I (we) betray our modern Western mindset of being governed by the god of speed.

The archenemy of faster is to be slow. And, believe me, slow is seen as a sin by most Westerners. For example, because I have a bum back, I tend to walk slow. More than once, I’ve walked from the parking lot into a store and had cars honk at me, and even some drivers swear and flip the bird at me – just for not hurrying along and making them wait a precious few seconds.

Or take the case of the stereotypical boss who is ready to pounce on an employee who shows up a minute late for work (of which I’ve observed a hundred times over my career). I’m sure you have your own examples.

In God’s kingdom, the slow will inherit the earth – not the speedy ones. That’s because God, at least from a human perspective, is slow. Yet, that’s more of a subjective matter and an issue of perspective. Christ ascended to heaven two thousand years ago. And still no Jesus, no Second Coming. What’s “up” with that? Because many people aren’t “down” with it.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9, NIV)

Far from being a sin, slowness is actually a virtue. Spiritual maturity can only result with the element of time – lots of it. There’s no quick way to becoming whole and integrated. Bible Cliff’s Notes aren’t going to get you very far. Most things cannot be rushed – especially when it comes to our words. Running our mouths never ends well.

You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness. (James 1:19-20, NRSV)

Elijah will come. So will Jesus. In the meantime, we need to embrace being an Elisha character who learns the unforced rhythms of grace and discerns the power in slowness.

We are to take time in learning from a trusted mentor… time in sitting with difficult emotions, like sorrow, and time in allowing God to be God so that untimely shenanigans like pulling up the wheat when trying to rid the field of weeds doesn’t happen.

People have a job to do while we wait – to bear witness of the things we have seen and heard. Power is given to those who await God’s gracious gift. Pentecost is just around the corner. Be patient.

Gracious and patient God, slow me down so that I may see you in this fast paced life. Give us all a listening heart and contemplative eyes, so that we might hear your voice may see you in our active world, through Christ our Lord. Amen.