NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR ASCENSION SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2023
This Sunday we will observe the Ascension of Jesus, that took place 40 days after His resurrection. Luke’s account of this event is found in Acts 1 and Luke 24.
The situation is that the disciples of Jesus are experiencing the crowning touch of their roller coaster journey of discovery about who Jesus really was. Jesus had been their teacher and their friend. They had seen Jesus do marvelous things like feed the 5000, heal the leper, and even raise the dead. But they also had witnessed the crowds turn against Jesus, watched Him crucified. But then, on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and made appearances to them over a period of 40 days. And now Jesus is saying good-bye to them. However, this is a case of the old saying being true that “all good-byes ‘ain’t’ gone.”
Human logic would rationalize that the 10 days from Ascension to Pentecost would seem to indicate that humanity was were without a divine presence. And that is not possible. Jesus may have seemed to be gone, but He was very much still with them. I’m convinced the disciples knew this because, “Jesus had opened their minds to understand the scriptures!” (Luke 24:45)
It is a lesson of hope with which we need to encourage ourselves. No matter what life throws at us, no matter how difficult the path gets, no matter how challenging the road ahead seems, let’s allow God to open our minds to understand the scriptures to the fact that we are never alone. God is always with us. Then, let’s “Reach out to Jesus, He’s (always) reaching out to us!” Know, trust and count on the fact that even when we can’t sense His presence; Jesus may seem to be “Gone … but (He is) still here!”
Join us for worship Sunday, in-person, by Zoom or Facebook Livestream. We will observe the Ascension of Jesus with my sermon “Gone, … But Still Here!” based on Luke 24:44-53.
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