Across the Pastor’s Desk by Mark Boorsma

The Ascension of Our Lord (May 25) is always day 40 of the 50-day Christian resurrection feast. 

Ascension continues the lifting up (begun on the cross) of Jesus. When Christians say Jesus “ascended into heaven” and “is seated at the right hand of the Father,” what are they thinking?

Some might only be thinking of ascension in a narrow sense of going up, sort of wafting into the sky like the wizard of Oz in a hot air balloon. If so, that image is unfortunate, suggesting an escape, evacuation or worse — a publicity stunt. At any rate, the wafting up image leads usually to the conclusion that Jesus is now gone — absent, away.

Theology — how people think about God — is shaped powerfully by images. Imagine your mind as an art gallery and yourself as a curator. On the walls of your mind you display mental pictures that are meaningful — maybe because they move you deeply, amuse you or simply draw your attention with vivid brush strokes, forms and colors.

The biblical writers use words like the visual artist uses paint or other media — to create an image.  What picture does the ascension of Jesus want to hang in the gallery of your mind and imagination? 

If just going up is too narrow, how about the richer and more complex definition of ascension”?  For that word is also used as a synonym for coronation and enthronement. 

The biblical portrait of ascension imagines Jesus as crowned, enthroned, living and reigning from the very mercy seat of God.

In the words of the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives,” here is a splendid ascension painting for your gallery within:

“He lives to bless me with his love;

He lives to plead for me above;

He lives my hungry soul to feed;

He lives to help in time of need.”

Mark Boorsma is the pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Albert Lea.