Shepherd of the Lake
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“He Ascended into Heaven”
Just as there is a forty-day period preceding the glorious event of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, so also there is a forty-day period that follows the event of his resurrection: it is the Ascension into Heaven.
In this year that 40th day is the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend and preceding the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Though Ascension services have become fewer over the years, yet the truth and eternal meaning of this event in the life of our Savior and for the Church has been an integral part of our weekly worship, as we have repeated and contemplated over and over again in the words of the Creed, “He (Jesus) ascended into heaven.”
Just as God’s Son came down to earth in his incarnation — being born of the virgin Mary and taking upon himself flesh and blood (though without sin) — so also with this same body Jesus continues the “salvation circle” by returning home – to “sit at the right hand of his Father” and to rule all things and to fill all things for the sake of his Church.
So, the God who came down to earth to take on the form of man, now in his ascension returns to heaven as the God who is man. This event of exaltation has eternal meaning for us, who by faith are even now united with our ascended Lord; and will — when our earthly life is completed — follow him to our eternal home.
Professor Paul Raabe expresses in his Concordia Journal (Fall, 2019) article on the Ascension: “the incarnate Son of God with his human nature publicly entered into heaven, the place where God the Father directly displays his majesty and presence to his angels and the souls of deceased believers… Revelation 5 provides an account of the event from heaven’s vantage point…the one who was slain in his human nature is now the honored Lord in his human nature.” (ellipses mine)
Jesus has paved the way for our ascension by having died for our sins, giving us the right to be called children of God, and promising us eternal life as a gift. Indeed, we can say and believe with the Psalmist, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23)
May we continue to sing with confidence and joy in this Easter season,
“Draw us to Thee, For then shall we walk in Thy steps forever
And hasten on Where Thou art gone To be with Thee, dear Savior.”
(Lutheran Service Book, 701)
