The Apostles' Creed - Pt. 18

And he [Jesus] 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 24:50-53 ESV).

 

In the next declaration of the Apostles’ Creed we say that Jesus “ascended to heaven.” This happened forty days after his resurrection (cf. Acts 1:1-11). But this does not mean Jesus abandoned his disciples or us. In fact, it means Jesus went to heaven for us. While the Bible isn’t very clear about where heaven is or what it looks like, it plainly teaches that heaven means being in the presence of God. In God’s presence, Jesus serves as our advocate, continuously interceding with God the Father for our every need (cf. Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2). Jesus’ presence with God also assures us that one day we will be with him in God’s presence as well (cf. John 14:1-3). And from heaven Jesus sends his Holy Spirit as a guarantee and a reminder that he is always with us (cf. Matthew 28:20).

 

Saying goodbye can be hard. In fact, grieving loss is one of the hardest things we must do in life. Jesus’ disciples surely felt grief and sorrow as they watched him being taken up to heaven. Knowing that Jesus is in heaven for them and for us now gives us tremendous comfort and strength as we wait for his promised return. In the meantime, as he lives in our hearts through his Spirit, Jesus calls us to share his love with a world full of sorrow and grief.

 

Often theology becomes a tedious study of centuries old platitudes and opinions. However, that is not what we see in this great declaration. Formed in the crucible of experience and struggle of the early Church, we see how these declarations all coalesce into an unshakeable hope as we face the trials and challenges of our journey through life. They are not mere declarations of “to-do-lists”; they are not commandments and behavioral standards. They are the framework of faith that produces hope. Jesus ascended to heaven. In so doing, He becomes our advocate. In so doing, He becomes our proof of eternal life. In so doing, He validates every promise of God in the Scripture. In so doing, He gives us the end of it all to our benefit. He ascends and so shall we!