Dear Readers and Listeners, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Our watchword for this Ascension Day is taken from the Gospel of John, Chapter 12 verse 32, “I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself,” (NRSVB). Jesus Christ was lifted up for humans to behold at his baptism, transfiguration and on the Cross. When Jesus came out from the baptismal water, God spoke and instated him in his ministry by saying, “This is My Son, in whom I delight.” At Jesus’ Transfiguration on the Mount, the three disciples saw Jesus in his radiant glory. God spoke again and affirmed Jesus’ ministry and said that his Son must be listened to. When Jesus was hanging on the Cross, for all to see, God spoke with the voice of nature. He caused darkness and an earthquake – as his Son died – to save the world. When Jesus ascended to heaven, “It occurred that while He was blessing them, He parted form them and was taken up into heaven,” (John 24 verse 51). Jesus, in fulfilling the mission that was laid upon his shoulders; namely the reconciliation of humankind with God the Father, was revealed as the One whom we can look up to. The One from whom we can receive healing. The last act that Jesus performed on earth was the act of blessing his children, comforting them by telling them that he will return again. This is our Christian hope and it will come to pass at the time that “the Father has ordained.”
The prophet Zephaniah was a contemporary of the Prophets Jeremiah, Nahum and possibly Habakkuk, he prophesied during the reign of King Josiah, from the year 640 to the year 609 BC. He told of the devastation that will befall Israel and Judah, and warned of the Exile and Babylonian Captivity. However, his prophecies included the promise of restoration, the return to the land of Israel and Judah and the rebuilding of the temple. “I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honour in every land where they have suffered shame,” Zephaniah 3 verse 19, (NRSVB). Israel and Judah returned and the Temple was restored as God promised and Jerusalem became once again the main centre of Jewish worship. When Jesus taught his disciples he quoted the prophets foretelling of the Messiah “And all your spiritual children shall be disciples, taught by the Lord, and obedient to his will; great will be the peace of your children,” Isaiah 54 verse 13, (Amplified Bible). Jesus explained to his disciples that God is the One who will raise the believers, as God is the One who will raise Christ, “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me attracts and draws him, and gives him the desire to come to Me, and then I will raise him up form the dead at the last day,” John 6 verse 44, (Amplified Bible). Like the disciples, we want to know when that last day will be, the day when Jesus will come again in glory.
“When they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses,” Acts 1 verses 6 to 8, (NRSVB). Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, who came at Pentecost, to help us in our journey here on earth, while we wait and work where the Lord has placed us. We wait with anticipation for our Lord to come in glory. Nobody knows the exact time of Jesus’ return, when every eye will see him, and every tongue confesses that he is Lord of All. Let us work and not grow weak, let us lift our weary hands and our trembling knees. Let us trust our Lord who promises that He is the Messiah who brings light to all those who are in darkness, and peace to all those who are oppressed and down-casted. He has ascended and He will come again.
Father, we thank you for your Son. We look forward to His return as King of kings, Amen.