Ascension Day
Years ABC

Introduction

[Ed's note: Most of our churches acknowledge the Ascension on the Sunday after. Here's the lectionary for Ascension Day.]

We seem almost back to the Road to Emmaus where Jesus talked with his disciples, broke bread, then vanished from their sight. This week, Jesus is comforting his disciples and assuring them that, even if he (Jesus) leaves, the disciples will not be alone. Recall that Jesus has spent forty days with the disciples (since his resurrection)—conversing, eating, drinking, enjoying their and His company. I'll bet the disciples had begun to feel comfortable in this "familiar" time with their Lord. I'll bet they had almost forgotten that there was more to the story to unfold. But they didn't have much time to think about it. Jesus had barely finished speaking to them when he was lifted up into the cloud and out of their sight. As the sometimes comical disciples are wont to do, they are struggling to see where Jesus is. It took two others (angels? white robes?) to break the news—he is not here. The "others" continue, “You have seen him leave this earth. And this is the way he will return to earth!” Another mind-blowing experience for the disciples. 

How about for us? Do we sometimes continue to look for Jesus when he has already moved on? Do we forget (or almost) that we have more to do? I think so. Comments welcome.

Luke 24:44-53

Jesus said to his disciples, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

From sermon4kids.com: “I don't know how all of this looked, but in my imagination I can see the disciples standing and watching as Jesus ascended higher and higher until He disappeared from view. Were the disciples sad? No way!”