paravanes:meditations

The answer is yes! In John 10:10, Jesus explains part of his mission by making this statement: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,  and have it to the full." This is one of the most important verses in the Bible. In this verse, Jesus draws a contrast between what has happened in much of human history (and in our lives) and what he (Jesus) comes to do about it. Part of what Jesus did as he journeyed with his disciples from the resurrection to the ascension was to heal their broken hearts. Have no doubt: the disciples had broken hearts as they witnessed the arrest, trial, and execution of Jesus. The leader they'd seen perform miracles, debate his divinity with the religious authorities, and explain a plan for a new way of living had been unjustly arrested, tortured, and killed. They were unable to prevent this series of events and it seemed Jesus himself was unable to prevent the events that led to his death. ...

From The Book of Acts, Chapter One: ... I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach   2  until the day he was taken up to heaven,  after giving instructions  through the Holy Spirit to the apostles  he had chosen. 3  After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them  over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.   4  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:  “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait  for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.   5  For John baptized with [ a ]  water,  but in a few days you will be baptized with [ b ]  the Holy Spirit.” 6  Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore  the kingdom to Israel?” 7  He said to them:  “It is not for you to know the times or dat...

Ascension Sunday has fallen into obscurity and neglect in many denominations. I’ve posted about this previously, but I am still saddened by the trend. I am beginning to create a small, at-home worship ritual celebrating the Ascension and based on meditative readings of Acts chapter one and Revelation chapters one and twenty-two. The Ascension is important because it answers an important question: what happened to Jesus after his resurrection? The answer matters. The passage from Acts explains many things. One of them is this: Jesus is a supernatural person who arrived in an extraordinary manner and left in an extraordinary manner. Jesus will return in the same, extraordinary manner in which he left. Also, Jesus told his disciples to wait before rushing off into “the next great thing.” He told them some things were not for them to know at that moment. Jesus did, however, give them a glimpse of their futures. Jesus told his disciples they would receive po...