A Concord Minute: An Absent Jesus?

“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.” - Luke 24:50-53

Alleluia Jesus is reigning! He is reigning indeed, alleluia! A blessed Ascension weekend to you all. May 9 is the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord. Most of the church observes her Lord’s ascension either Thursday, May 9 or this weekend during the normal worship services.

Why? Because Jesus ascended to heaven 40 days after His resurrection. Jesus now sits at His Father’s right hand on high. The ascended Jesus is a good thing to celebrate.

Why celebrate Jesus’ ascension? Especially since it appears He is leaving everyone behind? Why celebrate an apparently absent Jesus? The ascended Jesus is the reigning Jesus.

With Christ reigning as Lord and King, He has subjected all things in heaven and earth under His feet. Nothing is outside of His control. Nothing. With the ascension of our Lord, we now have a present God. The ascended Jesus is not the absent Jesus nor absent-minded Jesus. With Christ upon His throne, He controls all of creation - bringing life and death as He wills it. With Jesus present at the right hand of the Father, you have an advocate in heaven interceding for you to the Father. The ascended Jesus is a present Jesus. Thanks be to God! There is much joy to behold in Christ’s ascension.

Yet, are our hearts joyful knowing that truth? Do you echo the disciple’s great joy as they returned to Jerusalem? Sometimes, I don’t. Ascension can feel like we are celebrating an absent Jesus. At times even, it does seem like Jesus does not care about you or about your problems.

When His Father brings Jesus up into the heavens, it might seem like Jesus has absconded to some far away place, uninterested in the happenings and shortcomings of His broken, yet good, creation. Yet, as Paul says in Ephesians 1:22: God put all things under Jesus’ feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Christ is presently reigning in His creation. How? Through you, His church. Though ascended into heaven, Jesus is bodily present through His church, His body. An absent Jesus?

Hardly. How do you know Christ is reigning? Look at His church that clings to Him. She, the church, is the place from which Christ reigns on earth. There, in the Word and Sacraments Christ dwells and reigns. To seek God is to dwell within the church where Christ promises to be for you. You want Jesus? Come to His church - He is reigning for you.

The Rev. Matthew Berry is pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston, Missouri. Based in Sikeston’s Historic North End, Concordia is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), a theologically conservative, biblically sound, Christ-centered church.