I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe.
Tom was twelve years old but he was a small twelve year old. After school he walked home and it seemed that one of the school bullies had it in for Tom. It was probably because Tom was small for his age that the bully found it easy to pick on Tom.
He would wait behind the bus shelter for Tom every day. The 12 year old knew that he would be there everyday but he had no choice. He had to go past the bus shelter to get home. Everyday after school was a nightmare.
Then one day a new child started at his school. He made the bully look like Thumbelina. He was the biggest and strongest boy in Tom’s class. Even better was the fact that he moved into the same street as Tom and so had to walk home from school the same way. All of a sudden, Tom’s fear of walking home disappeared.
He felt like superman walking past that bus shed with his new friend at his side (the side closest to the bus shelter). The presence of this new child walking at his side took care of his fear.
Paul makes no bones about the fact that there are mighty, powerful forces out there that have got it in for us, and would bully us into a sense of fear and failure. But he is also convinced out of experience that the one who is at work in us is greater than any of those forces that oppose us.
So he prays that Christians would get their eyes open to the power available to them---"that you will how very great is his power at work in us who believe" (Eph 1:19). Today we are celebrating the Ascension of Jesus to heaven. We know that Jesus was raised form the dead on Easter morning and that he had made numerous appearances to his disciples over the next 6 weeks. They had enjoyed their meetings with their Master and had learnt a great deal about the meaning of his death and resurrection.
Today we have heard in the readings how Jesus went with his disciples to Bethany and gave them some final instructions about the coming of the Holy Spirit and how they were to be his witnesses to the far corners of the world. When he had finished speaking to them, he was taken up to heaven. You can imagine first the surprise and then the sadness as it sank in that Jesus was gone for good this time.
The apostle Paul tells us the meaning of Jesus ascension when he says, "God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name. And so, in honour of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:9-11).
We say in the Apostles’ Creed, "He ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty". When we talk about Jesus sitting at God’s right hand we are saying that he has all the power and the glory of God. There is nothing or no person more powerful that the ascended Jesus. At our baptism, we became members of God’s family. The ascended Jesus is our Lord. We are God’s own people. We have a new life that is lived under the lordship of Jesus.
The question that linger is: "What has all this got to do with anything in my life or our world? We've come to church today worried about my health, my family, my job, or lack of it, my bills, my grief, my fears, and a host of other things.
So who wants to talk about Jesus sitting at God’s right hand in heaven? What has Jesus’ ascension got to do with anything in my life anyway?" First let’s be clear about where Jesus is right now. We could think that since the disciples saw Jesus ascend from the earth and go up through the clouds that he has left us and gone somewhere else. Don’t we often talk about God as being "up there" as we point heavenward? Or when we talk about those who have died as going "up to heaven".
Jesus did go up, ascend and leave the disciples that day, but he left this earth so that he could be the ever and always present God. He is Lord of all and wherever we go on this earth, under the sea or out in the depths of space, he is there.
And it is at this point that the ascension of Jesus has something to say about our health, our family, our grief, and our fears. As Lord and King he is not only right here with us as we strive to come to terms with all of the things that upset and cause us grief, but he also has the power to do something about it. He promised just before the ascension, "I will be with you always, to the end of the age" (Matt 28:20).
He has promised to be our help and support when things are getting us down and we don’t have the strength within us to keep on going or are stressed at how everything will turn out.
When we dread what the doctor will say;
when we stand at the grave of a loved one;
when a child gives us one headache after another;
when we worry about finances, retirement, and the bills;
when we toss and turn at night with every kind of fear and anxiety spinning around in our head; we are reminded that the ascended Jesus is far greater that any trouble that distresses us.
When our sin upsets us, when our guilt plagues us, or we fear what will happen to us when we take our last breath, Jesus is our Lord and Saviour. He has defeated the power of sin to condemn us. He has overcome the power of death and assured us that there is life after this life and that he waiting to welcome us home.
Probably the earliest creed consisted of 2 words – Kyrios Iesous – Jesus is Lord. The title "Lord" is a symbol of his victory over all the forces of evil. Jesus is our Lord because he has saved us. Jesus is Lord because he is able to fulfill his promise to walk with us always and to be our guiding and helping shepherd all the way through life.
Jesus is Lord when it comes to our prayers. We are reminded of Jesus’ promise concerning prayer when he said: Whatever you ask in my name, he will give it to you. Each day thousands of people throw up their hands in despair over the frustrating situations in their families, their jobs, their personal lives.
While this is happening, the Divine Creator of all stands by ready to assist, hoping that his children will request his all-powerful help. The ascended Jesus intercedes for us at God’s throne – he knows what it’s like to live through trouble and pain in this world. He can sympathize with us and answer our prayers in the best way possible for our blessing.
A survey revealed that only a very low percentage of those who responded to the survey counted on God to help them in their suffering, that is, really counted on God and not just turn to him as a last resort. It is obvious from that survey that regardless of church or religious ties, most people do not count on the power of God in times of need.
And yet, in the midst of our indifference, unbelief, our laziness, and forgetfulness, the invitation still stands, Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you…. The Scripture says.
I’m sure that in all honesty we don’t take seriously the fact that Jesus is Lord. Too often we don’t take seriously that Jesus can carry our burdens and make our load lighter. Often we don’t take seriously that Jesus has the power to answer our prayers and can make a difference.
I should also add that being in his kingdom under his lordship means a life of service to others, commitment to those things that Jesus is committed to – love, forgiveness, helping, an upright and decent life (that’s a topic for another day).
The Ascension reminds us that we have a Lord who came and gave his life for us. He rose so that we can be free of fear. He rules heaven and earth assuring us that in the face of any evil force, he is Lord.
"There is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 8:39).
Amen.
Rev. Samuel King-Kabu
May 28, 2006