CrossLife Church- Pflugerville, TX

Jesus’ Graduation?

This class of students worked hard the last few years. 

They studied diligently, avoiding distractions or laziness. Sometimes through the night. They matured through many new life experiences helping to prepare them for the real world. 

Now they are ready. But ready for what? Ahead of each of them lies a road but in what direction, and toward what destination, and how will they know where to turn and when?

For all the answers they have found the last few years, they now have just as many questions about the future. None of them will admit it, but each of them is a bit nervous. It’s kind of hard to figure out how nervous because all their emotions are bubbling over into anxious excitement on this graduation day. 

Their attention turns to the one teacher who has instructed them more than any other the past few years and will now say a few words to both settle their nerves and stir up their ambitions. They anticipate great words of wisdom like he has always shared. He begins.

“This is what I told you,” he says as he proceeds to repeat verbatim key points in lessons they recalled from years ago. No novel ideas. No predictions of the future. The same old stuff. 

You can understand how at first the graduates feel disappointed but as he continues they begin to see. They start perking up as they realize that the ears hearing these same old words are hearing them differently now. The minds absorbing these same old words are understanding them differently now. 

The instructor then shocks the graduates by announcing a leave of absence and walking off the stage, disappearing from their sight but not from their lives. Not ever. He is leaving them. But he is leaving them with much. 

They jump for joy and can’t wait for tomorrow. For their lives in the real world. For the fulfillment of all they have learned and of the person each of them will soon become.

So the Bible reports the ascension of Jesus, which Christian churches celebrate each year on the 40th day after Easter. Jesus ascends up into heaven and leaves his disciple students. But he leaves them—and all of us who believe in him—with much. 

Just as graduation ceremonies both celebrate what has taken place and anticipate what will take place, the ascension of Jesus Christ both celebrates what has been and what will be. It’s a pivot point of sorts. Read all about it using the reference below.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, you are risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. You rule in the heights above, over all powers and problems in this world. Remind me today of your saving love, and help me look forward to serving you and others. Amen.

FURTHER MEDITATION: Read about Jesus, his teaching, and his ascension in Luke 24:36-53.