Lifting Up Wounded Humanity
Service link: https://youtu.be/GWTVDj8w5cs
Readings: Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 121, Luke 24:44-53
Have you ever turned around and looked at our ascension window? It is a beautiful piece that is trying to capture the moment when Jesus was lifted up into heaven. Every Sunday in those moments when I address God, in the Eucharist or Lord’s Prayer, I often look to that image of the transcending Jesus and talk to him. Jesus’ ascension is one of those profound moments in history that art can often speak to, but we have a hard time describing and putting into words.
There are four parts of the ascension that I want to talk about. First, I want to talk about how Jesus’ humanity was raised with him. Second, I want to look at the authority given to Jesus. Third, I want to talk about the transition for humanity, what this changed for humanity. Lastly, I want to talk about his coming again.
We often talk about how Jesus is both God and man, but the ascension takes that one step further and now brings Christ’s humanity into the very Godhead. This means that humanity is now in God through all eternity, so when we look back at creation and see God making humanity in his image, we can say: of course, because Jesus' humanity was part of God before time. It may create a cyclical argument, but eternity does that to most things.
This has more meaning still because if Jesus’ humanity was lifted up that means that all of humanity can be lifted up with him. There is a fit there now. We have the potential for a transcendent nature in union with God. This was Jesus’ physical and spiritual nature ascending, so our physical nature is also really important and is meant to be lifted up. Our faith is not just concerned with our spiritual lives, because every part of us is meant to find union with God. We too are meant to exist in God through eternity. This is an amazing destiny that we all are meant for and is yet still beyond us.
The last part of humanity being raised in Christ is that he also brings with him his wounds. His pierced hands, side, and feet are now in God. It’s not that we can wound God, but God takes on the wounds of love willingly. He so empathizes with our broken realities, and the hurt we cause for ourselves and others, that he takes it on. He forever knows and feels what humanity goes through, he forever knows our struggles and pain, because he loves us enough to take it on forever. So we both see the immense promise God has for us, but also how far he will go to give it.
This brings us to Christ’s authority. Every Sunday we confess that Jesus was raised and that he sits at the right hand of God. This is a kind of symbolic understanding of Christ’s position of authority in God. Since God in Jesus now feels for all of our struggles, this also helps to understand why he cares for us so much, why he so often shows mercy and goes above and beyond to help us through our struggles, even when we do not deserve it. There is a part of God that is always advocating for us, feeling and knowing the struggles we have gone through.
It also helps us to understand that we are never alone in our suffering, God empathizes because he has and is going through it with us. If we add this to the fact that God is also our creator and the sustainer of all things, this also means that God really truly does know what is best for us on the inside and out, and will do it. Jesus tells us that it is good for us that he leaves and I believe it is for all of these reasons and more.
With this elevation of humanity, we also see a change for humanity. The gospel of Luke ends with the ascension of Jesus and the book of acts begins with it. Because of this moment, we suddenly see the powerful life-giving ministry of Jesus, taken up by the disciples themselves. In his writing, Luke creates a parallel between the two books as in acts we see the disciples living through the story of Jesus. We witness the birth of a new people, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the teaching, the healing, the persecution by religious leaders, and even ending with imprisonment and execution.
There is a very special reason this parallel between us and Jesus exists. Jesus tells us that it is because he is leaving that he can send us the Holy Spirit. As Jesus brings humanity into the Godhood, he also sends the Godhood into humanity (at least those that are open to him).
The astounding thing is that because of Jesus’ ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit, at times it truly does seem like the disciples do even greater things than Christ. Look at the numbers at Pentecost, the belief of the gentiles, the spread across nations, the feeding and miracles, and more. This becomes a great witness to the new potential of humanity that has been created because of Jesus lifting up and empowering humanity.
Humanity has forever been intertwined with God out of God’s love and choice. This means that the next time he comes it will be different because God is already linked to humanity. Instead, he will come just like he left, but this time he will come back in the clouds with the authority and the wounds that he bore. Jesus knows all of the struggle, he knows all of the hurt that we have caused and felt. As the blood in the earth cries out for justice, so do our wounds, and so do his. This means that we know he has to come back to judge. We know, we also feel that he has to come to set things right. It’s not just that there will be no more pain, but also that every tear will be wiped away. That wiping away is important. Jesus' authority must live out justice to do that. We don’t always like this, because justice can be scary, but we know we need it. But since we know that Jesus carries humanity with him, it means he holds mercy and justice together, looking for redemption and hope for us and the world to come.
What does this mean for us now? Well, we move forward with amazing potential and purpose: to be lifted up with God and do the same for others. As Christians, we have been so privileged to know God, and we can even grow in that privilege as we make space for the Godhood to live in us. It is our purpose to share that privilege, to invite others in and prepare others for Christ’s coming again. We all know we need his mercy, and through a life following Christ we can trust we will stand up before his judgment. God, in Christ has taken all that we are into himself, this means that God understands and walks through us in our suffering, but also that every part of us is important and meant for God’s kingdom. There is practically nothing this doesn’t affect or put into question. How are we going to live into this new reality for humanity? How can we live a transcendent life where God lives in us? How can we as a community do even greater things than Christ? This is all possible and more because God has taken humanity into himself. AMEN
Bible Study: Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 121, Luke 24:44-53
Acts 1:1-11
What is similar between the beginning of Acts and Luke? What does this tell you about its authorship and purpose?
Why does Luke end with the ascension and Acts begin with it? What changes in the story? What changes for those following Jesus?
Why was it important that Jesus spent so much time with the disciples between his resurrection and ascension? (Look at Luke 24:44-53 also)
What is significant about the number 40? What can this tell us about this transition time?
What does Jesus’ ascension mean for the Kingdom of God (anywhere where God reigns)?
What does it mean that Jesus didn’t die first, but was lifted up in his wounded body to become one with the Father in heaven?
How does the ascension relate to the giving of the Holy Spirit? How does our baptism relate to the giving of the Holy Spirit?
How will Jesus Christ come again? What does it mean that it will be different than the second time?
Digging Deeper
Do you have a hard time imagining eternity?
What does it mean for you that God experiences your pain? That God loves you enough to bear the wounds of love for eternity?
Do you feel like God is close? Do you feel like he is empowering you? What makes this difficult at times?
Why is it important to you that Jesus comes again? Is it? Does it scare you or bring you comfort?
