Introduction
What do these names have in common…Pioneer, X-1, Mercury, Freedom, Ranger, Mariner, Gemini, Surveyor, Apollo, Viking, Sputnik, Jesus?
Or how about these things…Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavor, Pathfinder, Crew Dragon, Jesus.
Figure it out? I’ll give you a hint… 3-2-1-Blast off!
Each name I just listed has launched and blasted off from earth.
*******
Since October of 1957 human beings have been launching rockets and shuttles and ships into space—all in an effort to see beyond what can be seen.
The first space craft was the Russian Sputnik—made infamous in my head when I watched the 1983 movie, “The Right Stuff” which chronicles the first fifteen years of America’s space program, including the race to space against Russia.
My Uncle was in the Air Force during World War II and went on to be an architect for Northrop Grumman for his career helping design what became one of my favorite jets, the F-20 Tiger Shark. I still have some of his drawing of that plane.
As a kid it was a dream of mine to one day join the Air Force, fly jets, and maybe, perhaps, add my name to the long list of astronauts from Ohio that includes: John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Akron’s own Judy Resnik. Ohio is among the states that have produced the most astronauts, which begs the question to be asked: What is it about our great state that makes people want to leave the planet?!
When I was a kid NASA’s space program featured frequent launches of the space shuttle—many of which I watched on television with thrilling wonder and fascination. The most memorable, unfortunately, was the 1986 launch of the Space Shuttle Challenger, which exploded 73 seconds into its flight, killing all seven crew members, including Judy Resnik.
I used to love to draw in grade school, but the only drawing I drew from fourth to sixth grade was of the space shuttle—over and over again, trying to make it better each time. I don’t draw the space shuttle anymore, but I still follow the space news. And in recent months we have been treated to new images and successes with the Exploration of Mars, and just the other day NASA’s Voyager I, launched in 1977 and has traveled over 14 billion miles, just relayed back to earth what are being called eerie sounds of interstellar space.
Everything that happens within the space program—whether it be American, Russian, Chinese, or the private sector with Space X and Blue Origin among them—is an effort for us to see beyond what we can see.
Now some will say this effort to see beyond what we can see all started with guys named Copernicus and Galileo, but an argument can be made that it actually started with Jesus and his Disciples.
*******
In talking about our passage for today—on this Ascension Sunday— New Testament professor Sarah Henrich says, “Luke has a way of turning endings into beginnings for new ventures. The final promises of Jesus is to push us into a future that goes beyond what Luke, can see. And beyond what we can see as well.”
The ascension occurs at the conclusion of the earthly ministry of Jesus—during that post resurrection, Eastertide season, we have been in. But though it is an ending, at the same time it is the beginning of a new adventure, one that pushes us into an unknown future.
To better understand this passage, and what the Ascension means and does, we have to first look at what led up to the ascension. Which means, like any space launch mission, there needs to be a careful countdown before there can be a successful launch.
So let’s do a proper: 3-2-1-Blast off!
Move 1
Three… After the resurrection, Jesus appears to his Disciples, and others, in Jerusalem.
We know the story of the resurrection, and how Jesus reveals himself to two of his followers on the road to Emmaus—they’re walking—Jesus comes up—asks what’s happening—they can’t believe he doesn’t know—except he does know—he’s Jesus—but they don’t know he’s Jesus—etc…
Jesus then appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem, but they think he’s a ghost. So Jesus says, “Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and blood as you see that I have” (Luke 24:39). Then he asks for some food. They give him a piece of fish, and he eats it in their presence (vv. 41-43) to prove he is not a ghost.
Which yes, means that to prove he is not a ghost…Jesus has a snack.
Professor Henrich, again, says, “While this might seem like an odd or humorous action, the people of the first century would have recognized it as proof that Jesus was no disembodied spirit.” When Jesus appears to his disciples, he is “the real Jesus, the real man”— as solid as a solid rocket booster.
This is certainly beyond what the Disciples could see before the resurrection.
Move 2
Two… Jesus “opens the minds” of his followers to understand their mission.
Jesus knows he has limited time between the day of resurrection and the day of the ascension, so he stresses such. “Everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled” (v. 44). Jesus presents himself as the word of God in human form, the one who completes everything God began to say through the law, the prophets and the psalms.
Now Jesus knows this is a lot for people to absorb— not only for the disciples, but for us as well. So Jesus “opens their minds” to understand the Scriptures (v. 45). Jesus gives them the gift of understanding, so they can better comprehend what God has been doing, from ancient times through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This remains true for us today. We need to have our minds opened because the words of the law, the prophets and the psalms can be confusing and sometimes contradictory. We need Jesus to give us correct understanding.
*******
When Christians were arguing over biblical understandings in the 1500s, a group of Scottish leaders, called the Scots Confession, which included Protestant Reformation leader John Knox, discovered that the interpretation of Scripture “does not belong to any private or public person, nor to any church.” Instead, they encouraged Christians to trust the Holy Spirit to guide them, and to focus on “what Christ Jesus himself did and commanded.”
For example, Moses said, “Kill every male among the little ones” (Numbers 31:17). But Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me” (Matthew 19:14).
The prophet Amos said the day of the Lord “is darkness, not light” (Amos 5:18). But our Savior says, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).
Psalm 7 says, “Rise up, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies” (v. 6). But Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
The Scots Confession states, “We dare not receive or admit any interpretation that is contrary to the Christian faith, or to the rule of love. Every word in the Bible should be interpreted through our faith in Jesus Christ, and through the rule of love.”
And they can say such because Jesus opens our minds to what it means to be faithful Christians in the world today, and see beyond what we can see.
Move 2
One… Jesus promises that his followers will be “clothed with power from on high” (v. 49).
Jesus knows he will be leaving soon, and he wants his Disciples to be well-equipped to continue his work in the world. So he tells them the end of his earthly ministry is the beginning of a new adventure for them, one in which they will be filled with the Holy Spirit. And sure enough, just a short time later, they receive the gift of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost—which we will celebrate next Sunday.
And Pentecost definitely reveals something beyond what we can see.
Move 3
Blast-Off!… Jesus leads the Disciples out as far as Bethany, lifts up his hands, and blesses them.
While he is blessing them, Jesus is carried up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51). The Disciples are as amazed as any of us would be as if we were watching a rocket rising into space.
And just like us when we watch a rocket launch, when Jesus is gone the Disciples are filled with joy, and wonder, and excitement. They return to Jerusalem and worship him with enthusiasm and commitment; invigorated by seeing the impossible become possible. They bless God in the temple and prepare themselves to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (vv. 52-53) which will be their final preparations for their launch as the church.
Jesus, you could say, has completed his mission. Not because he has blasted off into the heavens, but because he has prepared his followers for the continuation of God’s work in the world.
Conclusion
The writer of the Gospel of Luke is the same writer of the Book of Acts—and the Book of Acts tells the story of Pentecost—the launching of the church—which we will celebrate next Sunday.
The ascension is an ending, but it marks a new beginning that is coming at Pentecost.
Today marks the end of Jesus’ physical, earthly ministry. He has shown us the way. He has taken us beyond what we could see through the law, prophets, and psalms.
He has prepared us for what comes next—the work of the Holy Spirit that will happen in us and through us. And once again, we will be made to see beyond what we can see.
The work of the Holy Spirit, combined with the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection, and now the ascension of Jesus will always lead us to “blast-off” beyond what we can see. Let us dare not miss our chance to be part of the launch. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer, May 16, 2021, Ascension Sunday
With mouths gaping open and eyes looking heavenward, we trace the ascension of our beloved Savior Jesus Christ back to you Holy God—knowing it was all by your power that Jesus came, died, rose, and returned to you.
On this Ascension Sunday we would like to stand here, looking heavenward, thinking about how much Jesus means to us. We want to stay standing firm upon the Holy Ground of this sacred space for it is safe and peaceful and hopeful.
But we know O God we are called to lower our eyes and get moving to serve you in this world. We can hold the image of Christ’s ascension in our hearts, but our hands and feet must be ready to do the work you have set before us.
For you have called us to live out our resurrection faith in service to others; offering peace and justice, hope and healing to all whom we meet—doing so in both word and deed.
So we pray that today you once again set that call upon our hearts, for you have called us together to hear the words of Jesus as he prayed for his disciples, telling you his love for them is complete and he believes in them.
Make it that we know on that day of ascension we too were included in that blessing; that Jesus prays for us and loves us and calls us to be his hands and feet in the world, as powered by the Holy Spirit.
For truly he has given his life for us, and now we are called to give our lives for him, offering to all the Good News that your love is real and powerful—that it is beyond anything we have ever seen.
We ask that you would hear now the prayers we have to lift to you in this time of Holy Silence.
We offer our lives and prayers to you Holy God, in the name of our ascended Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, who taught us to pray saying, “Our…”