Ascension
Prayers of Approach
God of glory and love and power and possibility, we celebrate with you the work of Jesus, his achievement of reconciling the world to you. We celebrate his homecoming with you and with all the angels of heaven. We come before you in awe and we lift up our hearts and our hands in worship.
Jesus, Son of God, who was lifted into heaven, we worship you with great joy. Jesus, Son of God, raised far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come, we worship you with great joy. Jesus, Son of God, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and whose kingship is one that shall never be destroyed, we worship you with great joy.
Amen.
Why do you stand gazing into heaven? This Jesus whom you seek is here, alive, risen, present, alive today. Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.
Why do you stand gazing into heaven? This Jesus whom you seek lives on, in his people, lives on in you, lives on in strangers. In sacrifice and self-giving we see the living God.
In acts of love we see the living God. Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.
Today, we remember. We look back. Grant us your peace. And in granting us peace, help us to look forward in hope. Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.
Why do you stand gazing into heaven? Know that he sits at the right hand of God to forgive and to strengthen. Look rather to the future, live for today. Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.
Amen.
Hymn Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord (R&S 234)
Readings: Acts 1:1-11
Luke 24:44-53
Introduction
Luke’s Gospel closes as it began: in the Temple. The dutiful service of Zechariah and Elizabeth, coupled with the angel’s promise, mark a period of waiting for the fulfilment of God’s purpose. In the closing passage, the disciples continually bless God as they wait for the fulfilment of Jesus’ words, the coming of the ‘promise of God’.
The book of Acts begins where the Gospel ends but it is only this passage which tells of a 40-day span of teaching and nurture by the risen Jesus after Easter. If not for this we might assume that the account of the Ascension in Luke 24:50-53 described an event on Easter evening. These twin accounts of the Ascension, ending Luke’s first volume and beginning his second, show how important this event is to Luke.
Hymn Hallelujah, sing to Jesus (MP 207)
Sermon
When I was young the launch of a manned space rocket was a big event. As the time approached the tension and excitement built, until those last few moments when everybody would chant as the clock ticked down the seconds, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Lift-off! And a big cheer would go up as the rocket cleared the launch pad.
I wonder how the disciples felt as the time of Jesus’ departure drew near. Did they feel the tension building, did they know the countdown had begun, were they even aware that Jesus was soon going to leave them? The 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension are usually regarded as a time when he prepared his disciples for their mission, ‘that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be preached… to all nations,’ and commentators often speculate on how the disciples felt after Jesus ascended. Luke leaves us in no doubt however. Jesus blessed his disciples and was ‘carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.’ So, a great big cheer at ‘lift-off’?
Most Ascension Day hymns have a heavenly focus, bursting with triumphant delight at Jesus’ elevation to God’s right hand, hailing him as exalted Messiah or heavenly High Priest or homecoming Son. But the most significant thing
about Luke’s accounts of the Ascension is their earthly focus. Jesus has gone – what are his followers to do now? Jesus, however, has prepared them for life without his bodily presence, twice counselling patient waiting until the pouring out of the promised Spirit of God. They are to continue with faith, trust and patience and God’s Spirit will assuredly come to them. The passage in his Gospel tells of the culmination of the story of Jesus’ ministry, whilst in Acts Luke narrates the beginning of the account of the Early Church.
Perhaps the disciples joy at Jesus’ ascension is something of a ‘eureka’ moment: at last everything has fallen into place. Asked on one occasion what is the greatest thing in life, John F. Kennedy is said to have replied: ‘To take up a challenge’. For Jesus’ disciples his commission was perhaps the greatest challenge of all: in both Luke and Acts Jesus is recorded as declaring that his disciples are to be his witnesses. They are to go out into the world to tell people everywhere about Jesus and his teaching, and to move from their familiar, relatively comfortable world into the unfamiliar and uncomfortable.
How do the disciples go about this? Luke tells us that before leaving them Jesus ‘opened their minds to understand the scriptures.’ Their task now is to take that understanding and, empowered by the Holy Spirit which they are soon to receive, to use it to convince others of the truth of God’s love in Christ. The rest of the book of Acts could be read as a deliberate pastoral response to this problem – a long, encouraging demonstration that the absent Lord is, in fact, actively present with his people, by his Spirit, come what may.
Hymn God is gone up on high (R&S 253)
Prayers of Intercession
Let us pray for the world into which Jesus called us to go, preaching repentance and the forgiveness of sins.
Risen and ascended Christ in whom the scriptures are fulfilled, you called your disciples to be your witnesses in all the world. Help us to declare the good news of your love to our generation. Fill us and all your Church with your Holy Spirit and make us worthy to stand before you in your heavenly kingdom. Equip us to work in your service, and build up your body on earth.
Amid the conflicts of the present age, the injustice of war, and individual acts of terror, help us to live your peace. Grant us the will to use the gifts we have, as prophets or pastors or teachers, or in any way you call us, and announce your coming kingdom, as we glorify your name. Equip us to work in your service, and build up your body on earth.
May the people among whom we live grow in the knowledge of you. Bless, we pray, those who are sick or distressed, and each one who mourns. Today we remember especially… Grant them your comfort and hope, and strengthen us to serve them Equip us to work in your service, and build up your body on earth.
Lead us in humility, gentleness and patience as we lift our eyes to you, O Christ. Help us to be forbearing with one another, and to speak the truth in love. So may we glorify your name and come at last to your heavenly kingdom, where the faithful disciples of every age will gather at your throne. Equip us to work in your service, and build up your body on earth. Hear the prayers that we offer and guide each footstep as we follow you. Amen.
Hymn At the name of Jesus (R&S 261)
Blessing
May the God known of old in clouds of glory, and the Christ who suffered and rose from the dead, at one with the Spirit who guides and inspires us, make us faithful witnesses to the truth; and the blessing of God all-loving, creator, redeemer, sustainer, be with us all today and for evermore. Amen.
Prayers and other material (adapted) © Roots for Churches Ltd. Used by permission.
