Stopping for His Ascension
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Acts 1:9 
"Scenic view ahead," says the road sign. There's a car on your bumper and you're in a hurry to find a motel, so you don't pull off. Later you learn you've missed one of the better views on the drive.
Something similar can happen with Ascension, a day rapidly becoming a forgotten church year festival. We can learn much when we stop to view Christ's ascension.
The upward view
Never before and never again would the world see a rescue mission like the one that brought God's Son to earth. This mission dared not fail, nor could it be aborted. It was designed to rescue captives from sin's unyielding chains and hell's unending fires.
Now, 40 days after Easter, the risen Savior stands with his followers on the Mount of Olives. The Scriptures have been fulfilled. The cross has been erected and bloodied. The tomb has been filled and emptied. Jesus has finished his mission and is ready to return to a glorious heaven.
What does that sight of our ascending Savior show to all who stop to look? He leaves, not with half a sacrifice for sin, but a complete one. His work of salvation requires no finishing touches, no loose ends to be tied together by us. His ascension shows us "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).
Thank God for that upward view of Christ's ascension. It assures us his mission is all done.
The outward view
Before Jesus was "taken up before their very eyes" that first Ascension Day, he gave them a mission. "You will be my witnesses," he said. He even told them how far they were to go--"in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." "Look outward," he said. "Look around you and see how many need to hear of my salvation." Faithfully they took up their assigned mission: "They spoke the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31).
How goes it with us and our mission of telling others of their full salvation? Have we told our family all we can? Not just through our church services and classes, but in our home, the first church a child ever attends? Have we told our community all we can? Not just through our congregation's evangelism committee, but with our ongoing efforts toward those with whom we rub elbows daily? Have we told our world all we can? Not just through those 66 overseas missionaries who labor for our synod in 22 countries and 33 languages, but with our dedicated offerings and daily prayers?
If the unbelieving people in the world were to line up single file in front of our church door, we are told, the line would stretch around the world 30 times. Moreover, that line is reportedly growing by 20 miles a day. That's what we see when we take the time to stop on the Mount of Olives.
God help us take the outward view of Christ's ascension. It challenges us: "Your mission is only begun."
Richard Lauersdorf, the synod's first vice president, is pastor at St. John, Jefferson, Wisconsin.
Something similar can happen with Ascension, a day rapidly becoming a forgotten church year festival. We can learn much when we stop to view Christ's ascension.
The upward view
Never before and never again would the world see a rescue mission like the one that brought God's Son to earth. This mission dared not fail, nor could it be aborted. It was designed to rescue captives from sin's unyielding chains and hell's unending fires.
Now, 40 days after Easter, the risen Savior stands with his followers on the Mount of Olives. The Scriptures have been fulfilled. The cross has been erected and bloodied. The tomb has been filled and emptied. Jesus has finished his mission and is ready to return to a glorious heaven.
What does that sight of our ascending Savior show to all who stop to look? He leaves, not with half a sacrifice for sin, but a complete one. His work of salvation requires no finishing touches, no loose ends to be tied together by us. His ascension shows us "we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10).
Thank God for that upward view of Christ's ascension. It assures us his mission is all done.
The outward view
Before Jesus was "taken up before their very eyes" that first Ascension Day, he gave them a mission. "You will be my witnesses," he said. He even told them how far they were to go--"in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." "Look outward," he said. "Look around you and see how many need to hear of my salvation." Faithfully they took up their assigned mission: "They spoke the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31).
How goes it with us and our mission of telling others of their full salvation? Have we told our family all we can? Not just through our church services and classes, but in our home, the first church a child ever attends? Have we told our community all we can? Not just through our congregation's evangelism committee, but with our ongoing efforts toward those with whom we rub elbows daily? Have we told our world all we can? Not just through those 66 overseas missionaries who labor for our synod in 22 countries and 33 languages, but with our dedicated offerings and daily prayers?
If the unbelieving people in the world were to line up single file in front of our church door, we are told, the line would stretch around the world 30 times. Moreover, that line is reportedly growing by 20 miles a day. That's what we see when we take the time to stop on the Mount of Olives.
God help us take the outward view of Christ's ascension. It challenges us: "Your mission is only begun."
Richard Lauersdorf, the synod's first vice president, is pastor at St. John, Jefferson, Wisconsin.
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