Mark 16:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

The Ascension of the Lord represents the culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Now He sits at the right hand of the Father in glory.

The Gospel According to Mark is divided roughly in half in two parts. The first part, chapters 1-8:1-26, asks the question, “Who is Jesus?” It answers that question by revealing Jesus as the Son of God (Mark 1:1). Jesus reveals this through the miracles He performs. The second half of the Gospel According to Mark, chapters 8:27-16, asks the question, “What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus?” It answers that question by revealing that the disciples of Jesus are those who share in His cross (Mark 8:34).

To follow Jesus is to take up your cross. Jesus was a suffering Messiah. He did not seek the triumphs and glories of this world. Rather, He came to do His Father’s will, and that was to live a life of perfect obedience, even unto death (Phil 2:8). It was because of that life lived in perfect obedience even unto death that the Father raised Him up.

The promise of the Ascension is that, just as Jesus was raised to glory, so we will be raised to glory, if we take up our cross, follow Him, and remain faithful to Him to the end. Jesus does not promise the triumphs and glories of this world. Rather, He promises life eternal in His Father’s kingdom, to share in the divine nature.

The Collect for the Mass of the Ascension says:

Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God, and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving, for the Ascension of Christ your Son is our exaltation, and, where the Head has gone before in glory, the Body is called to follow in hope. …

This, indeed, is our hope. Today, we celebrate the culmination of Christ’s earthly ministry, His exaltation, and our hope to follow Him in glory. This is His promise. He keeps His promises.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.