Ascension
And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen. Luke 24:52-53
This passage was alluded to in the previous devotion. We have looked at how Jesus Christ has ascended into heaven. Yet, there is also the fact that He remains. It’s a head-scratcher, but by faith, we understand that though Jesus rules at the right hand of the Father in heaven, He remains here with us through the faith that the Holy Spirit works in your hearts. Is it any wonder that the disciples went away at Jesus’ words and “continually” spent their time in God’s house, waiting for the time of the Holy Spirit to come at Pentecost?
We have promises from Jesus Himself. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) The context of the verse is about discipline, but it is a discipline carried out by believers in His name. Jesus is very much in the presence of believers. He is near when you worship Him with other believers. He is near when you ask Him to “be our guest” at the kitchen table. He watches over you in His grace and mercy. He is the Mediator between God and you (1 Timothy 2:5).
The great joy of Christ’s ascension into heaven is that we have a loving Ruler who judges us by the metrics of grace. But our great joy is also that He is still close. He has not retreated to a castle and shut Himself within it. He is personally involved in your lives, working all things together for good to those who love God, “to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) One day, the King will return in glory to bring you home. Then we will know Him face to face, no longer just by faith (1 Corinthians 13:12-13). He remains our Hope, and our hope remains in Him until that wonderful Day.
Still for us He intercedes;
His prevailing death He pleads,
Near Himself prepares our place,
Harbinger of human race.
The Lutheran Hymnal 213.5