Although we live in the glow of Jesus’ Easter victory during these Sundays of Easter, we anticipate Jesus’ ascension. Although Jesus has removed His visible presence from us, He is still with us as we carry out His Great Commission. In fact, as we go forward baptizing and teaching all nations, Jesus has promised us in His own, almighty and omni-present way: “And surely I am with you always until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:15).
Moreover, as we will hear on Pentecost, Jesus promised to send His disciples the “Counselor,” the Holy Spirit, to be with them and gift them in special ways as they carried out His ministry. So, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to be with us today, as the Spirit works through the word and sacraments that we administer according to Jesus’ will.
Jesus’ promises of His presence bring us comfort and confidence, since Jesus’ ascension into heaven 40 days after Easter Sunday…when He removed His visible presence from us. This year Ascension Day falls on May 26. Jesus’ ascension to God’s right hand means that He no longer has to “humble” Himself. He completed that role as part of His saving work. In His state of exaltation, Jesus now rules without setting aside the use of His divine glory, knowledge or power.
What an encouragement to Jesus’ Church as He sends us with the word, through which the Holy Spirit works, to convict sinners and bring them into the family of believers through faith. Because of that faith-family relationship, we can all look forward to one day receiving our heavenly mansion as prepared by our ascended Savior (John 14:1-3).