From Pastor Johnson: He Ascended Into Heaven

Dear Peace family,

Last time in the “Liturgy Notes” section we talked about the line in the Apostles’ Creed, “He descended into hell.” The next line is perhaps more familiar, but maybe not much more comprehensible: “He ascended into heaven.” What, exactly, does that mean?

The Biblical story is clear enough. It is found in its fullest form in Acts 1. Jesus appears to the disciples some 40 days after the resurrection, and then “as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” It is mentioned more briefly in Luke 24.51—“While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.”

From the early centuries, the church has celebrated “Ascension Day” on the 40^th day after Easter. Since that day is always a Thursday, it often passes unnoticed by most Christians—though in some European countries, it is still a legal holiday, celebrated in churches with great joy and festivity.

When one reflects on it, however, it becomes for each of us a day of great meaning. The German Christian martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to his parents from his prison cell: “Today is Ascension Day, and that means that it is a day of great joy for all who can believe that Christ rules the world and our lives.”

In those few words, Bonhoeffer really captured the incredible meaning of the day: Christ rules. The resurrection was the defeat of sin, death and the devil—but the ascension represents Christ’s final and ultimate rule. He “sits at the right hand of the Father”—and so he is above all, and over all. He rules the universe, and our lives.

Sometimes it does not seem so. On Ascension Day some 28 years ago, Lois and I buried our infant son, who died shortly after birth. When tragedy strikes, we are sometimes tempted to believe that Christ does not, in fact, rule, that the world is out of control.

The best part of the ascension story for me is what happens just before and after Christ ascends into heaven. Just before, the disciples had been quizzing Jesus about what would happen next. His response to them was, I think, one of the most profound verses in the Bible: “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set.” Not for you to know! I need to hear that over and over. When things seem confusing, when the world seems out of control and I wonder why, I need to hear it: “It is not for you to know!”

And then after the ascension, as the disciples stand gaping at the sky, two angels appear: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?” It’s a gentle rebuke, and I think it points back to the earlier comment of Jesus: “It is not for you to know.” There are so many things that must remain mysteries to us. We don’t like it, but it’s the way it is.

And so on Ascension Day, we are left with “not knowing”—and yet with knowing something very important, something wonderfully expressed in the Psalm associated with Ascension Day:

God has gone up with a shout,

The Lord with the blast of the trumpet.

Sing praises, sing praises to God;

Sing praises, sing praises to our King!

For God is King over all the world.

Peace to you,

Pastor Richard O. Johnson

Classic Prayers

A Prayer for Pentecost

Lord God, dear Father, Who on this day through

Thy Holy Spirit didst enlighten and teach the hearts of Thy believing ones: Grant to us, that we may have right understanding through the same Spirit and at all times rejoice in His comfort and power, for ever and ever. Amen. –Martin Luther

Liturgy Notes: Pentecost

During the course of the Christian year, there are three significant festivals. The first two are widely observed, both in church and in society. They are, of course, Christmas and Easter. The third great festival, Pentecost, has not had much of an impact in our culture, and it remains primarily a church-observed “holy day.” Yet it is a very important festival for us. It celebrates not only the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, but also the completion of the work of God with his people.

When the New Testament refers to Pentecost, it is talking about the Jewish festival of that name. For the Jews, Pentecost was a harvest festival, something like our Thanksgiving Day; the name “Pentecost” was derived from the fact that it took place fifty days after the Passover. At the time of Christ, this festival was second only to Passover as a major celebration of the Jews. In Jewish practice, in fact, the entire period of fifty days between Passover and the Pentecost festival was referred to as “Pentecost.” The early church took over this practice and named the entire period after Easter the “season of Pentecost.” During this festive time, no fasts were kept and the Christians all prayed standing in honor of Christ’s resurrection.

By about the third century, the use of the term for this entire period had died out, and the Day of Pentecost itself had become the focus. But that day was highly regarded; until the medieval period, it was probably more significant to Christians than any other day but Easter.

The liturgical focus of the day is solemn, yet joyful. The color is red, reminding us of the tongues of flame that appeared above the heads of the apostles in the Acts account. There are several ancient hymns written particularly for Pentecost. Luther loved the day, and some of his hymns have survived. One of the best:

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord,

With all your graces now outpoured

On each believer’s mind and heart;

Your fervent love to them impart.

Lord, by the brightness of your light

In holy faith your Church unite;

From every land and every tongue,

This to your praise, O Lord our God, be sung:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Today on Pentecost we focus on the Holy Spirit in many ways. In some churches, it is a traditional day for Baptism or Confirmation. The Scripture lessons give us an opportunity to think about the continuing work of the Spirit in the Church today through its gifts and fruits. But however we approach it, Pentecost is a time to praise and thank God for the Comforter, the Counselor, the Holy Spirit that keeps the light of God burning within our hearts.

This year Pentecost falls on May 23. As we approach that day, do some reflecting about the work of the Holy Spirit. Come to church that Sunday, wear red if you can, to celebrate the wonderful gift that Christ poured out upon the apostles on that first Day of Pentecost.