New Ascension Banner at Christ Lutheran
by Celeste Grau
Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. Luke 24:44–53
There is a saying, “All Good Things Must Come to an End.” Here on earth this is true. Not only do good things end, bad things also end. Concerning bad and difficult times the expression is, “This Too Shall End.” Because of sin, everything we experience in life will come to an end.
It is sad when good things end. Friends move away and you lose contact. Dear and kind coworkers find new employment and develop a new sphere of friendships. Families are separated by distance when a community doesn’t offer the right opportunities for children. The list goes on and on but in our experience the final and most devastating separation and ending is the death of a loved one.
For some days after Good Friday the disciples experienced the loss of a dear friend, not because he moved on in his relationships but through death. It was devastating for them. They not only were filled with a sense of loss but also fear for their lives and future. They had placed their hope in this friend and those hopes were dashed! The disciples on the road to Emmaus put it well when they said, “We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21).
Yes, Jesus had died but what the disciples hadn’t realized is that although His earthly ministry and good times they had experienced with Him were over, better times lay ahead. Jesus’ resurrection proved that death need not be the end. In fact Jesus’ resurrection illustrated that for believers in Christ, death is a new beginning.
While it is true, “All Good Things Must Come to an End,” for Christians, better things always await us. Jesus’ Ascension into heaven was the final note in the symphony of His mission of salvation here on earth. The disciples recognized this when the Bible reports that following Jesus’ Ascension, “They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.”
Transitions in life can be difficult and filled with anxiety. It is sad when a good part or phase of your life is over. Graduations, weddings, and new jobs can all be bittersweet. You grieve the loss of old friendships and relationships. But as God’s people we always know better times await us. New opportunities unfold. New relationships are forged. For us as Christians we can live our lives with great joy just as the disciples did.
We know that Jesus has accomplished His mission. He has ascended into heaven to rule the world on our behalf. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He has sent His promised Holy Spirit into our lives. We continue His work here on earth by being His witnesses and proclaiming the Gospel until the day when He returns and declares to you, “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for your work of salvation! Grant that each day, I would be encouraged to see even better days ahead as you have promised to be with me always. Amen.
God’s richest blessings in Christ,
Pastor Philip Quardokus
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