He Ascended
Adult study
As We Believe, So We Behave
Living the Apostles' Creed
Object:
"I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty."
"He ascended ..." -- up, up, and away. It must have been a very strange sensation for those on the hillside. What was this? A magic show? Jesus suddenly levitating above them, disappearing into a cloud? What's the trick? Is David Copperfield around here someplace? Okay, you can bring him back. Anyway, we have work to do. A kingdom to establish. Besides, we were not done talking. What did he mean, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now"? (Acts 1:5 NRSV). And what was that about, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"? Come back, Jesus, the show is over. Come back -- Jesus ... Jesus? But he was gone.
You have probably heard this apocryphal story before. Jesus arrives at the pearly gates following the ascension. The angel host was gathered to welcome God's Son and celebrate his return home after his incredible sojourn on earth. Everyone had questions and wanted to hear his story -- born of a virgin, raised in humble circumstances, years teaching, preaching, and healing. Eventually, there was that gruesome torture and murder, but finally the conquest of humanity's most feared enemy -- death. All to share the good news of a loving God who wants nothing but the best for creation. Now the Christ is home, and everyone is exultant.
Someone asks, "Lord, now that you are no longer physically on earth, who will continue to share the good news?"
Christ responds, "There are eleven who were especially close to me, and I have given them the responsibility of getting the word out."
"O Lord, these eleven must be incredible people -- the best and the brightest that creation has to offer!"
"Well, actually, no," the Lord responds. "These are average folks with ordinary abilities. Not the 'best and the brightest' by any means."
"But Lord, if these are only average people with ordinary ability, how can you be sure that they will get the job done?"
"Well, to be honest," the Lord answers, "I can't be sure."
"You cannot be sure, Lord? Well, what if they fail to do the job? What is your backup plan?"
Quietly Christ answers, "I have no backup plan."
Hmm.
One might figure that our friends would be depressed at Jesus' disappearance. After all, they had been on quite an emotional roller coaster. There were the good times traveling through the countryside for three years, the bad times of trial and torture that culminated at Calvary, the good times together once more following the resurrection, now ... gone again. Who could blame them for being dejected? The record says, "a cloud hid him from their sight." Hmm ... the same cloud that led the children of Israel in the wilderness? Good Jews had long looked at clouds as symbolic of the presence of God. Perhaps that is why, instead of dismay and depression, in the other biblical account of the ascension in Luke's gospel (Luke 24:51-53), we find the disciples returning to Jerusalem "with great joy." Somehow, they understood that Jesus had simply gone home.
He had stated over and over again that this was the plan (John 14:2, 12; 16:5, 28; 20:17; and so forth). This was not, "Good-bye," but rather, "See you later." He said, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3). This was not the end of their relationship with Jesus but a brand new beginning. Not a cause for despair but case for delight!
In a unique way, their Lord and Savior was not less accessible but more. No longer would he be limited by space and time, but now would be available everywhere and anytime by the presence of his Holy Spirit. Within just days and weeks, that pitiful band of beleaguered believers, which had hidden itself behind locked doors in fear for its life stood boldly in the public arena and proclaimed the gospel of the crucified and risen Christ. It spread beyond Jerusalem, just as Jesus said, into Judea and Samaria and on to the ends of the earth. What a difference! It gave rise to the first confession of faith the church ever had: Jesus Christ is Lord! It is fleshed out by what we repeat from week to week: "He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty." What glory!
The great Christian missionary to India, E. Stanley Jones, a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, commented that after Gandhi's assassination, the radio constantly broadcast programs that eulogized the father of that great land. He noted that a Mrs. Naidu, a well-known Hindu poet, spoke on Sunday, three days after the assassination. She had been in frequent contact with the Christian community in India, and her words carried an eloquence born of her emotion: "O Bapu, O Little Father, come back. We are orphaned without you. We are lost without you. Come back and lead us."
Jones said he could sympathize with her plea, representing the cry of a stricken nation. As he sat there he thought, "O God, I am grateful I do not have to cry that cry for the leader of my soul: 'O Jesus, come back. Come back. We are orphaned and stricken without you.' " He knew that his master had been received in glory, that he is a living presence in our lives day by day, and that he is coming back to redeem the entire world.1 "He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty."
The point of the whole matter, of course, is a reminder of who Jesus is -- not simply some ancient itinerant rabbi who taught timeless truths, not simply some helpful Hebrew healer who had remarkable power over disease and even death, not simply a compassionate, caring friend who reached out to those whom society rejected, but rather the God of all creation come to earth, incarnate in human flesh. Now it was time for his return to glory.
The early scribe who, blessed with divine wisdom, completed the Lord's Prayer for oral repetition by adding the resounding phrase, "for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory" knew what he was doing. It was the perfect touch. That scribe knew from the depths of his being, Jesus "ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty."
We have strong biblical warrant for that statement. It starts with Psalm 110: "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet' " (v. 1). Jesus quotes it. Paul quotes it. Peter quotes it. "... you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One ..." (Mark 14:62), says Jesus. He is "exalted to the right hand of God" (Acts 2:33), says Peter in his sermon on the day of Pentecost. "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56), says Stephen just before being stoned to death. "Who is he that condemns?" asks Paul. "Christ Jesus, who died -- more than that, who was raised to life -- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" (Romans 8:34).
First Peter speaks of "Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him" (3:21-22). And the writer to the Hebrews: "After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (1:3). This was the position of honor; this was the place of power; this was where King Jesus belonged through all the ages. Glory!
He deserved it. True, he wrote no books, composed no songs, drew no pictures, carved no statues, amassed no fortune, commanded no army, ruled no nation. Yet, he who never wrote a line has been made the hero of unnumbered volumes. He who never wrote a song has put music into the hearts of nameless multitudes. He who never established an institution is the foundation of the church that bears his name. He who refused the kingdoms of this world has become the Lord of millions. Yes, he whose shameful death scarcely produced a ripple on the pool of history in his day has become a mighty current in the vast ocean of the centuries since he died.2
Recently, several toy manufacturers have decided to tap into the "faith market" by producing biblically based dolls and action figures. Whether they will be successful or not only time will tell. So saying, they might recall what happened a half-century ago when Ben Michtom, president of the Ideal Toy Company, had a brainstorm: Why not sell a Jesus doll? In 1957, the majority of children in America were Christian, so he figured parents would jump at the opportunity to make playtime a religious experience. Other Ideal executives were horrified, but Michtom was convinced it was a great idea. To prove it, he took his case to a higher authority; while on vacation in Italy, he got an audience with the pope and pitched the idea to him. The pope gave his blessing, as did every other Christian leader Michtom consulted.
Unfortunately for Ideal, Michtom did not consult any parents, who probably would have told him the idea was a loser (which it turned out to be). As Sydney Stem describes the doll in Toyland, The High-Stakes Game of the Toy Industry,3 no one bought them because parents were horrified at the idea of undressing the Jesus doll, dragging it around, sticking it in the bathtub. Nothing sold. Ordinarily, there is a no-return policy on products already shipped. But in this case it was such a horrible mistake that Ideal took them back. It appears that what Ideal did with them was give each of its employees a doll and then they ground up the rest and put them in landfills.
Jesus dolls -- packaged in a box that looked like the Bible -- were probably the biggest doll flop in American toy history.4 Why? Because even though people of faith celebrate the fact that Jesus was truly human -- walked, talked, ate, drank, suffered, even died -- we know there is more to his story: "He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty." That is not dollhouse stuff!
So saying, there is something utterly unique with this king: Instead of being draped with the trappings of an all-powerful potentate as he deserves, he reigns as a suffering servant. Our sovereign Lord is revealed in the one who walked the dusty roads of Palestine, who had no place to lay his head, who emptied himself in obedience all the way to the cross. That was not the end of the story, of course. Hallelujah -- he who died to be our Savior now lives to be our Lord. "He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty."
Do you believe it? We continue to insist, as we believe, so we behave. How do we behave in honoring such a cosmic king as Christ? A good start is by taking his instructions seriously. If you want a quick primer on acceptable behavior, take a fast trip through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Angry words, insulting words, are out. Our sexual behavior will be in control. We will be honest in our business dealings. We will go above and beyond the call of duty in response to appeals for help. We will care for the welfare of, not only our neighbor, but our enemy as well. We will be religious, but not showy about it. Possessions will have their rightful place in our lives, not the be-all and end-all of existence. We will not be judgmental, but we will use good judgment. We will trust God to meet our needs. Of course, the gospels have much more for us, but those should do to get us started. Is Jesus Christ your Lord? Good -- then you will do your level best to do what he says.
Piece of cake, eh? Of course not, but we have the promise of his abiding presence to help us on our journey. This is, after all, our living Lord, the same one who "ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty." This is the one who is ultimately in charge, and that, my friend, is a wonderful word of hope for you or me or anyone who has ever been drenched in the storms of life. It is a word of hope for this old world that says "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail."
Quietly now. Listen for it. Faintly to be heard over the din of police whistles and fire sirens, the whine of fighter-bombers and missiles, the anguished cries of the mothers of murdered children, you can begin to make it out. "He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty." Slowly but surely it builds to crescendo: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah!"
____________
1. John Killinger, You Are What You Believe: The Apostles' Creed for Today (Nashville: Abingdon, 1990), p. 76.
2. Mack Stokes quoted by James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 73.
3. Sydney Stem, Toyland, The High-Stakes Game of the Toy Industry (Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1990).
4. Dynamic Illustrations quoting Uncle John's Ultimate Bathroom Reader (Berkeley, California: The Bathroom Readers' Institute, Bathroom Readers' Press, 1996).
Questions For Reflection
1. How are we to understand the "right hand of God" imagery that we find in reference to the ascended Christ?
2. The descriptions of the heavenly throne room should probably best be understood poetically rather than photographically. Are there other instances in scripture where we find something similar?
3. Of Christ's priorities that we find in the gospels, which are the most problematic in our day?
4. Is the Sermon on the Mount a good primer for Christian behavior? Are there others?
5. Will the recently introduced toys for the "faith market" do any better today than the Jesus doll did in 1957? Why?
"He ascended ..." -- up, up, and away. It must have been a very strange sensation for those on the hillside. What was this? A magic show? Jesus suddenly levitating above them, disappearing into a cloud? What's the trick? Is David Copperfield around here someplace? Okay, you can bring him back. Anyway, we have work to do. A kingdom to establish. Besides, we were not done talking. What did he mean, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now"? (Acts 1:5 NRSV). And what was that about, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"? Come back, Jesus, the show is over. Come back -- Jesus ... Jesus? But he was gone.
You have probably heard this apocryphal story before. Jesus arrives at the pearly gates following the ascension. The angel host was gathered to welcome God's Son and celebrate his return home after his incredible sojourn on earth. Everyone had questions and wanted to hear his story -- born of a virgin, raised in humble circumstances, years teaching, preaching, and healing. Eventually, there was that gruesome torture and murder, but finally the conquest of humanity's most feared enemy -- death. All to share the good news of a loving God who wants nothing but the best for creation. Now the Christ is home, and everyone is exultant.
Someone asks, "Lord, now that you are no longer physically on earth, who will continue to share the good news?"
Christ responds, "There are eleven who were especially close to me, and I have given them the responsibility of getting the word out."
"O Lord, these eleven must be incredible people -- the best and the brightest that creation has to offer!"
"Well, actually, no," the Lord responds. "These are average folks with ordinary abilities. Not the 'best and the brightest' by any means."
"But Lord, if these are only average people with ordinary ability, how can you be sure that they will get the job done?"
"Well, to be honest," the Lord answers, "I can't be sure."
"You cannot be sure, Lord? Well, what if they fail to do the job? What is your backup plan?"
Quietly Christ answers, "I have no backup plan."
Hmm.
One might figure that our friends would be depressed at Jesus' disappearance. After all, they had been on quite an emotional roller coaster. There were the good times traveling through the countryside for three years, the bad times of trial and torture that culminated at Calvary, the good times together once more following the resurrection, now ... gone again. Who could blame them for being dejected? The record says, "a cloud hid him from their sight." Hmm ... the same cloud that led the children of Israel in the wilderness? Good Jews had long looked at clouds as symbolic of the presence of God. Perhaps that is why, instead of dismay and depression, in the other biblical account of the ascension in Luke's gospel (Luke 24:51-53), we find the disciples returning to Jerusalem "with great joy." Somehow, they understood that Jesus had simply gone home.
He had stated over and over again that this was the plan (John 14:2, 12; 16:5, 28; 20:17; and so forth). This was not, "Good-bye," but rather, "See you later." He said, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am" (John 14:2-3). This was not the end of their relationship with Jesus but a brand new beginning. Not a cause for despair but case for delight!
In a unique way, their Lord and Savior was not less accessible but more. No longer would he be limited by space and time, but now would be available everywhere and anytime by the presence of his Holy Spirit. Within just days and weeks, that pitiful band of beleaguered believers, which had hidden itself behind locked doors in fear for its life stood boldly in the public arena and proclaimed the gospel of the crucified and risen Christ. It spread beyond Jerusalem, just as Jesus said, into Judea and Samaria and on to the ends of the earth. What a difference! It gave rise to the first confession of faith the church ever had: Jesus Christ is Lord! It is fleshed out by what we repeat from week to week: "He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty." What glory!
The great Christian missionary to India, E. Stanley Jones, a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi, commented that after Gandhi's assassination, the radio constantly broadcast programs that eulogized the father of that great land. He noted that a Mrs. Naidu, a well-known Hindu poet, spoke on Sunday, three days after the assassination. She had been in frequent contact with the Christian community in India, and her words carried an eloquence born of her emotion: "O Bapu, O Little Father, come back. We are orphaned without you. We are lost without you. Come back and lead us."
Jones said he could sympathize with her plea, representing the cry of a stricken nation. As he sat there he thought, "O God, I am grateful I do not have to cry that cry for the leader of my soul: 'O Jesus, come back. Come back. We are orphaned and stricken without you.' " He knew that his master had been received in glory, that he is a living presence in our lives day by day, and that he is coming back to redeem the entire world.1 "He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty."
The point of the whole matter, of course, is a reminder of who Jesus is -- not simply some ancient itinerant rabbi who taught timeless truths, not simply some helpful Hebrew healer who had remarkable power over disease and even death, not simply a compassionate, caring friend who reached out to those whom society rejected, but rather the God of all creation come to earth, incarnate in human flesh. Now it was time for his return to glory.
The early scribe who, blessed with divine wisdom, completed the Lord's Prayer for oral repetition by adding the resounding phrase, "for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory" knew what he was doing. It was the perfect touch. That scribe knew from the depths of his being, Jesus "ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty."
We have strong biblical warrant for that statement. It starts with Psalm 110: "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet' " (v. 1). Jesus quotes it. Paul quotes it. Peter quotes it. "... you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One ..." (Mark 14:62), says Jesus. He is "exalted to the right hand of God" (Acts 2:33), says Peter in his sermon on the day of Pentecost. "Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56), says Stephen just before being stoned to death. "Who is he that condemns?" asks Paul. "Christ Jesus, who died -- more than that, who was raised to life -- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" (Romans 8:34).
First Peter speaks of "Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand -- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him" (3:21-22). And the writer to the Hebrews: "After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven" (1:3). This was the position of honor; this was the place of power; this was where King Jesus belonged through all the ages. Glory!
He deserved it. True, he wrote no books, composed no songs, drew no pictures, carved no statues, amassed no fortune, commanded no army, ruled no nation. Yet, he who never wrote a line has been made the hero of unnumbered volumes. He who never wrote a song has put music into the hearts of nameless multitudes. He who never established an institution is the foundation of the church that bears his name. He who refused the kingdoms of this world has become the Lord of millions. Yes, he whose shameful death scarcely produced a ripple on the pool of history in his day has become a mighty current in the vast ocean of the centuries since he died.2
Recently, several toy manufacturers have decided to tap into the "faith market" by producing biblically based dolls and action figures. Whether they will be successful or not only time will tell. So saying, they might recall what happened a half-century ago when Ben Michtom, president of the Ideal Toy Company, had a brainstorm: Why not sell a Jesus doll? In 1957, the majority of children in America were Christian, so he figured parents would jump at the opportunity to make playtime a religious experience. Other Ideal executives were horrified, but Michtom was convinced it was a great idea. To prove it, he took his case to a higher authority; while on vacation in Italy, he got an audience with the pope and pitched the idea to him. The pope gave his blessing, as did every other Christian leader Michtom consulted.
Unfortunately for Ideal, Michtom did not consult any parents, who probably would have told him the idea was a loser (which it turned out to be). As Sydney Stem describes the doll in Toyland, The High-Stakes Game of the Toy Industry,3 no one bought them because parents were horrified at the idea of undressing the Jesus doll, dragging it around, sticking it in the bathtub. Nothing sold. Ordinarily, there is a no-return policy on products already shipped. But in this case it was such a horrible mistake that Ideal took them back. It appears that what Ideal did with them was give each of its employees a doll and then they ground up the rest and put them in landfills.
Jesus dolls -- packaged in a box that looked like the Bible -- were probably the biggest doll flop in American toy history.4 Why? Because even though people of faith celebrate the fact that Jesus was truly human -- walked, talked, ate, drank, suffered, even died -- we know there is more to his story: "He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty." That is not dollhouse stuff!
So saying, there is something utterly unique with this king: Instead of being draped with the trappings of an all-powerful potentate as he deserves, he reigns as a suffering servant. Our sovereign Lord is revealed in the one who walked the dusty roads of Palestine, who had no place to lay his head, who emptied himself in obedience all the way to the cross. That was not the end of the story, of course. Hallelujah -- he who died to be our Savior now lives to be our Lord. "He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty."
Do you believe it? We continue to insist, as we believe, so we behave. How do we behave in honoring such a cosmic king as Christ? A good start is by taking his instructions seriously. If you want a quick primer on acceptable behavior, take a fast trip through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Angry words, insulting words, are out. Our sexual behavior will be in control. We will be honest in our business dealings. We will go above and beyond the call of duty in response to appeals for help. We will care for the welfare of, not only our neighbor, but our enemy as well. We will be religious, but not showy about it. Possessions will have their rightful place in our lives, not the be-all and end-all of existence. We will not be judgmental, but we will use good judgment. We will trust God to meet our needs. Of course, the gospels have much more for us, but those should do to get us started. Is Jesus Christ your Lord? Good -- then you will do your level best to do what he says.
Piece of cake, eh? Of course not, but we have the promise of his abiding presence to help us on our journey. This is, after all, our living Lord, the same one who "ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty." This is the one who is ultimately in charge, and that, my friend, is a wonderful word of hope for you or me or anyone who has ever been drenched in the storms of life. It is a word of hope for this old world that says "the wrong shall fail, the right prevail."
Quietly now. Listen for it. Faintly to be heard over the din of police whistles and fire sirens, the whine of fighter-bombers and missiles, the anguished cries of the mothers of murdered children, you can begin to make it out. "He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty." Slowly but surely it builds to crescendo: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. And he shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah!"
____________
1. John Killinger, You Are What You Believe: The Apostles' Creed for Today (Nashville: Abingdon, 1990), p. 76.
2. Mack Stokes quoted by James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988), p. 73.
3. Sydney Stem, Toyland, The High-Stakes Game of the Toy Industry (Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1990).
4. Dynamic Illustrations quoting Uncle John's Ultimate Bathroom Reader (Berkeley, California: The Bathroom Readers' Institute, Bathroom Readers' Press, 1996).
Questions For Reflection
1. How are we to understand the "right hand of God" imagery that we find in reference to the ascended Christ?
2. The descriptions of the heavenly throne room should probably best be understood poetically rather than photographically. Are there other instances in scripture where we find something similar?
3. Of Christ's priorities that we find in the gospels, which are the most problematic in our day?
4. Is the Sermon on the Mount a good primer for Christian behavior? Are there others?
5. Will the recently introduced toys for the "faith market" do any better today than the Jesus doll did in 1957? Why?
