“Jesus: up, down, all around” – When God feels far away.
Every year, on the first weekend of November, Greece’s Air Force holds a public open day to celebrate its Patron Saint (In Greek Orthodox tradition this is the archangel Michael, revered as the guardian and protector of God’s people). Recently, one of the air force’s Mirage aircraft was unveiled with the archangel Michael painted on the tail[1]. Pictures have recently circulated online of Christian imagery painted on the undercarriage of Hellenic air force planes. It would be quite a sight to look up and see Jesus overhead on the undercarriage of an aircraft!
Today we commemorate the Festival of Jesus’ Ascension, when Jesus was taken up into heaven, 40 days after he rose from the dead. As the disciples looked up it was not a religious image on the undercarriage of an aircraft that they were gazing at, but Jesus himself; the risen, crucified Christ in flesh and blood. The One who had walked the seven miles on the Road to Emmaus was now treading air, rising up to clouds, before he was hidden from their sight.
Usually the celebration of Jesus’ ascension is hidden from our sight too, as the day it falls on is always on a Thursday. It easily slips by as our attention is focused on the weekly rhythm of school and work and daily tasks instead. But the Ascension of Christ is just as important as the three other major celebrations of Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. Without Jesus’ ascension, God’s purpose for us to share life with him in heavenly glory would be unfulfilled.
When I ponder Jesus going up into heaven, I can’t but help think of the 1977 OTC ad. [play video] Do you remember that ad? A lady who migrated to Australia recalls the day she left her homeland and her parents behind. Flashbacks of her life are shown while in the background Barbara Streisand sings the opening line of The way we were: “Memories light the corners of my mind”. As the woman boards the plane to take off up into the sky, she turns to wave goodbye to her parents who are in tears.
That was a haunting picture for a five-year-old when I first saw it on TV. A telephone is not the same as being with someone! I thought it would be so sad to be so out of reach from loved ones, only hearing their words from far away. Any farewell is tinged with sadness. So it’s incredible that the disciples—who had lived with their Lord and friend, followed him closely, were taught by him, cared for, comforted, and helped by him, who witnessed his miracles as they participated in his ministry—are not the slightest bit sad on as he departs. In fact, the opposite—after Jesus was taken up into heaven they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Why is this?
First, this is the peak of Jesus’ triumph. Today’s text from Ephesians reveals to us that God exerted his incomparably great power when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church…” (Ephesians 1:20-22).
All things have been placed under Jesus’ feet. He has complete authority and power and nothing is outside of his control, he is the supreme ruler. He says at the end of Matthew’s Gospel: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” So when things in the world, church and our personal lives alarm us, it is comforting to remember that nothing is outside of Jesus’ control. Jesus had said: “I will build my church and not even the gates of hell will overcome it.” That’s not talking about our organised institutions and congregations, Jesus means the communion of saints.
Nothing, not even hell itself, will triumph over God’s people because Christ is supreme Lord over all. That is what is meant when Paul says that all things are under Christ’s feet. What was promised in Genesis 3 after the Fall is fulfilled in Christ: the Saviour who would come and bruise his heel by stomping on Satan’s head. Jesus has ultimate control over God’s world, and ultimate control of his church, so even thought our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12), nothing can snatch us from the hand of Jesus who is Lord and Christ.
Second, we share in Jesus’ victory and authority. We participate in his reign. In Ephesians 2 Paul explains that God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In baptism we have been united with Christ. Paul says: “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” (Romans 6:3). Baptism is so much more that a symbol, and a reminder of what Jesus has done for us with his death and resurrection. It is the very means God unites us to Jesus’ own death and resurrection, so that we share in it. Paul doesn’t say our baptism symbolises Jesus’ death and resurrection. He says we were baptised into Jesus’ death. We were buried with Jesus through baptism. Our old sinful nature was put to death, crucified with Christ, before being dead and buried in the tomb. So Paul explains: “if we have been united with Christ in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” (Romans 6:5). Through water and the word we have been born anew from above, that our true home would be heaven above.
It follows that if baptism is the means by which God joins us with Jesus and Jesus’ death and resurrection, then we are also joined with Jesus in his ascension. In Ephesians, Paul says that we have ascended with Christ too—we are already there in the heavenly realms. This is past tense; it has already happened: God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). He did this so that in the coming ages we too, like disciples on the day of Jesus’ ascension, might see our exalted Lord, in heavenly glory—not just for a few fleeting seconds but forever, together with the angels, and the whole communion of saints, gathered around the throne of the Lamb.
Third, through the ascended Christ, God the Father would pour out the promised Holy Spirit on his disciples, and on people from all nations at Pentecost. In today’s reading from Acts we hear that after his resurrection Jesus commanded his disciples: “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.” (Acts 1:4-5). This is the same Spirit whom Jesus had said was not known or able to be accepted by the world, because the world neither sees him nor knows him. “But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17). Jesus said that the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in Jesus’ name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John 14:26).
But…is that all? Would the disciples only have memories to go by, like the parents farewelling their daughter at the airport? Would they only be able to remember, and not really be with Jesus again, while Jesus sits up in heaven, kicking back with his feet up? What about us? Paul says that “the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first…then, those who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Until then, are we physically separated from Jesus, far away from us, only hearing his words repeated by the Holy Spirit?
Does Jesus seem far away from you, hidden from your life, your problems, your fears, your frailties? Does Jesus’ ascension seem more like his abstention from our lives, our needs, our cares? Does it seem as though Jesus is far away, until the day he returns?
In the texts for Ascension Day, the focus is arguably less about looking ahead to the future, and more about focusing on the present. Even as Paul writes about the risen Christ being seated in the heavenly places, he also speaks of the Christ who abides with us still, in whom God put his power to work, so that Christ in turn puts his authority and power to work in us. For by his going to the Father, Jesus is with us even more closely than what was possible before. Jesus ascended not to absent himself from the world but to be fully present everywhere. Again, the text from Ephesians gives us such good news: “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:22-23). In his body, the church, the full measure of Jesus is found, just as he is present everywhere.
So the fourth thing is that, in his church, the ascended Christ is fully present for his people. Jesus promised in Matthew’s Gospel: “Where two or three are gathered, there I am with them.” At the conclusion of the Gospel of Matthew he promised: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). He does not say “my memory” or “my spirit” will be with us. He speaks of himself, not of something else. He says: “I am with them…”; “Surely I am with you always.” That last promise—that Jesus would be with his followers always—is in connection with making disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Jesus would continue to be with his disciples in their work of baptising and teaching, even as he had earlier said: “Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me”. Whoever welcomed his disciples, welcomed Jesus himself, the unseen companion with them, so that whoever received their ministry really received his. So although Jesus ascended to be everywhere present—filling everything in everyway—he is present in a special way in ministry and worship, bringing the same help as to all those whom he did in the Gospels. The disciples were overjoyed that they would be clothed with power from on high to do this work—which is why they returned to Jerusalem with great joy and stayed continually at the Temple.
Jesus is still here for you today. Not just a memory, and not only in Spirit. But the crucified and risen Lord who ascended to his Father’s right hand in the heavenly sanctuary is actually with you—personally, bodily—in this sanctuary on earth. His ascension did not mean the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth. His ascension means his ministry on earth continues in all places beyond Jerusalem and continues today, even as Luke says in today’s reading from Acts: “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.” (Acts 1:1-2). The inference is that Jesus continues to minister and teach in the days after he was taken up to heaven.
And so over the years, through all your pastors who have lifted up their hands to bless you here, the Lord Jesus has lifted his hands to bless you. When two or three of you have gathered to reconcile, Jesus has been with you, to do as you have decided. As you stepped out of your pews to pass his peace, you have gone with Jesus, the great Giver of peace. He has been present to hear your confession and forgive your sins. He is here to read from his holy word to you, just as he read from the scrolls in the synagogue. He is here to speak his powerful word over bread and wine to place his body and blood in your hands, bringing the life, forgiveness and salvation he won for the world on the Cross to you personally, as his specially invited guests he desires to honour at his table.
In all these ways, and through all these things, your Father in heaven continues to send the Holy Spirit through Jesus his ascended Son, to clothe you with power from on high to be his witnesses, breathe new life into you, and to enlighten the eyes of your heart, in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That same power that will cause you and all his faithful people to ascend with Jesus to be with him in our heavenly home, on the day he comes in glory. Amen.
[1] Karavantos, George: https://www.milavia.net/specials/greek-airforce-patron-saint-flight/ last accessed 4:15pm May 31, 2025.
