May 14, 2026 – Ascension Text: Acts 1:9-11
Dear Friends in Christ,
The Babylon Bee is a Christian satirical website. They recently wrote this. “Once again, a perfect day has been ruined by the existence of people. Local man Paul Jennings had woken up in an incredible mood, had a great prayer time followed by delicious bacon, only for his perfect day to come crashing down with his first interaction with people. ‘Every time,’ sighed Jennings. ‘People, man. Every single time I have a perfect day going there are people. Then, the day is longer perfect. People are killing me.’ According to surveys, every perfect day thus far in history has been ruined, at some point, by people. While perfect days seem to have a variety of origins, its destruction by people appears to be universal.”
It has been that way since two became one – sin in the world. Then God added two more and we had murder. People. You’ve seen it haven’t you? On your airplane. On the roads. In the grocery store line. At the sporting event. Family gatherings. And lo, God forbid, even at a church voter’s meeting. Interaction with people can cause us to drop our head. Here we go again. My congregation knows my solution is headphones. But there has to be something better than that. It is the day of Ascension and while you want to hang your head, we have some better news . . .
“THINGS ARE LOOKING UP”
Our text begins, “And when they had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” An awed silence. Eyes wide with astonishment as they follow him. Far aloft they see the holy body of Jesus until at last the clouds fold him in. They gaze but He is gone. He has ascended into heaven.
This could be a down time. The Savior was no longer with them. We need you Jesus. We have all these people to deal with. How can we go on?
When we deal with loss, our heads too fall southward. How can we go on? How can we face people? What will we do? What else causes you to drop your head to the ground? I have been a pitcher in both baseball and softball. Some of you have played alongside me and know I am quite reactive. Hits, runs, and the head starts shaking. I look at the dirt. What about you? Is it a bad diagnosis? Family problems? National and international news? Or maybe, just maybe, it is the people you have to deal with.
The Lord understands all this. Look at what he does in our text. “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Where else have we seen angels? Big events, right? Where people had concerns. The annunciation, Jesus’ birth, Jesus’ temptation, Jesus praying in the Mount of Olives before his betrayal, and then of course at His resurrection. These angels, as God’s messengers were there to explain the significance of these events. Let’s get our heads up. Things are happening.
Things are looking up. He will return again and for that we need to have our gaze upward. Jesus is present here now as he promised when we gather in his name. He did not leave us to run things in the Church as we see fit. That would be a decapitated Church. And there are lots of those. No, he is here where his Word is preached, and his Sacraments administered. He is here with his forgiveness when you have to deal with people, or they have to deal with you. Look up as he stands beside you in your diagnosis or family challenges. Look up to see that he still rules the world. Look up and know that he is right beside you loving, encouraging, lifting.
Remember his promise in John 12, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He has made atonement for everyone’s sin. He will draw people out of every nation to form His Church.
When he comes again we have to look up because Revelation 1:7 says, “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”
Yes, we pierced him, head hung in shame, but his piercing led to a crucifixion and resurrection. Heads up. Forgiven and saved. He is coming again. Let’s be ready. I pray you see it. Things are looking up.
Amen.