Friday, May 13, 2005
ASCENSION AND GRADUATION
It is appropriate that now, in the springtime of the year, when our attention is directed to graduations and confirmations, that we consider the Ascension of our Lord Jesus. Some 40 days ago we celebrated the empty tomb on Easter Sunday. Now, we witness our risen Savior ascend into the heavens, as He ends His visible days here on earth. In Jesus' Ascension we see an end and a beginning, just as we do at graduations.
"Pomp and Circumstance" sounds in the back-ground as graduates in robes and mortar boards march across the stage to shake the hand of the Dean or Principal and accept their diplomas. Graduation day is filled with both the joy of completing studies, and the sadness of friendships and things familiar coming to an end. There are tears as friends made at school won't be seeing each other on a daily basis, as they head off to different colleges or on to their lives in the workforce. At the time, High School graduation seems like a very big deal indeed, but as time goes by, and you get older you realize that it was just the very beginning of learning and living. Leaving the college campus too, is possibly the end of your classroom instruction for the rest of your life, but in reality is the beginning of your instruction in life itself.
On Ascension Day, the Lord Jesus left this earth as He rose up into the air, only to be covered by a cloud. There was no band playing. There were no hats thrown up into the air in celebration. There were only a handful of men, gazing up into the sky as a man visibly, quietly left the earth.
"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11).
It was the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, but in fact the very beginning of what He now continues to work in us. Having completed the work of redemption, the Lord set in motion the New Testament church, which would spread the Gospel of forgiveness of sins in His name. That work continues through us today.
We thank and praise the Lord Christ that even though His earthly mission came to an end, a new beginning of spreading the Gospel began, and now continues through us His humble servants.
