Ascension Day (Observed) and Mother’s Day – May 12th, 2024
Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas
Rev. Joshua Woelmer
Text: Luke 24:44–53
“Christ’s Ascension Means EVERYTHING”
Theme: Christ’s ascension means that Christ fills all things and is with us always.
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Where is Jesus? This might seem like a silly question, because the answer that you would probably give is “everywhere! Jesus is everywhere!” You would be correct. What if I change that question just a little bit. Where is Jesus’s body? Where is the body that was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, was buried, and raised again? Today, of course, is about the Ascension of Jesus. The story occurs in two of our readings. Jesus ascended in a place not far from Jerusalem, the town of Bethany. Clouds covered him as he ascended. So where did Jesus’s body go?
I will give you the answer: everywhere. It’s the same answer as before.
We’ve got to look briefly at the question “Who is Jesus?” That helps us understand how Jesus’s body can be everywhere. Jesus is 100% God and 100% man. The Christian church emphasizes this especially at Christmas, when he was born. It also comes into play on Good Friday when he dies and Easter when he rose.
But how does his divine and human natures interact? Is it like two boards glued together? No, that would imply that he was 50% God and 50% man. Is it like a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup? I love these things, by the way. Is the chocolate like his body, and the peanut butter inside like his divinity? The Christian Church has answered “no” to these ideas.
Rather, the two natures in Christ are so united that the divinity gives attributes to the humanity. Let me explain. One metaphor could be that of a red-hot iron poker. The iron poker is 100% iron. It’s also heated with energy, such that it doesn’t change into another metal. In fact, if you heat it enough, the iron would drip and flow like a liquid—but it would remain iron. This metaphor eventually breaks down, like all metaphors. But, you should think about Jesus’s body as glowing with his divinity. This is what the disciples saw during his transfiguration. It’s what enables Jesus now to be everywhere with his body.
At the end of Matthew, Jesus commands his disciples to make disciples of all nations by baptizing and teaching. He ends with this promise: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). This isn’t just his spirit. This is all of Jesus. This is comforting to us as well. We have our Lord with us. We dwell in him, and he dwells in us. Paul says, “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20). We can call Jesus our friend as he walks with us.
Faith also clings to where Christ has promised to come to us. Jesus is bound up in His Word. The Word of God comes through words. The Sacraments would be nothing if Jesus’s body could not be everywhere. We are united to Christ’s body in Baptism. Jesus gives us his body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. This is not merely his divine presence, but it is his human nature that we also eat, the body which he walked this earth with and the blood that was shed for us. It has been given qualities that mean it is not used up or dies when it is eating. Rather, the opposite: Christ’s body and blood give life to us who are dying.
This is why I say that the Ascension means everything. It means that we have an enduring connection to our Lord. He has not ascended to a heaven that is out there around Jupiter or further out. One view that we might have of the Ascension is that of Jesus getting into a space shuttle and heading out to the far reaches of the universe.
Space can be cool and interesting, and I’m all for astronauts exploring space. But they are not closer to God by doing so. You are closer to God now than the astronauts on the Space Station. Why? Because you have God’s Word preached to you. We have invoked God’s name and presence among us. We have called upon Him in prayer and praise to be with us.
In fact, that is what the disciples do following the Ascension, isn’t it? Yes, they are stuck at that spot for a bit, looking like people watching a rocket ship blast off into outer space. But after the angels say their message, what do they do? “They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God” (52–53). Their joy can be ours as well. Continually bless God because He has blessed you. You may not know this, but this is one reason why pastors lift their hands during the benediction at the end of the service. Jesus lifted his hands in blessing upon ascending, and that was the last they saw of him on earth. The end of our services ends in blessing, that you may go out into the world, blessing God for what he has done for you.
We understand that it is important to return blessing for those who have blessed us. This is as true today on Ascension as it is also Mother’s Day. We bless God as he has blessed us in Christ, and each of us is here because we had a father who begat us and a mother who bore us. It is good that we set apart a day to celebrate each. So today on Mother’s Day, consider the blessings that your mother has bestowed upon you too. And bless her for it! That includes thanksgiving, but it also includes praise and honor. She has been a blessing to you, even as you are a blessing to others. That is how life goes. That is how God works. His love is never ending.
Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.
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