Ascension 2025: Psalm 47:1,2, 5-6; John 14:1-3 and Psalm 121: A song of ascents.

intro in this reflection I invite you as Ps 47 to clap your hands in praise, when you see the phrase: Let us clap our hands in praise and shout Amen. Why not practice? Let us clap our hands in praise and shout Amen

Christ’s Ascension is the central turning event in the mission of Christ Jesus, for all that leads to Easter through His Ascension turns into all that flows from Pentecost.

The Son of God at Christmas descended from His presence with the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit into the womb of Mary and became a human being with us, Son of God and Son of Man, Emmanuel. Let us clap our hands in praise and shout Amen

In His earthly life and mission Christ walked in humble obedience to His Father and with us in saving action. Yet He was rejected by us, the leaders of His people plotting to crucify Him. He died for us.

In His death the Lord of Life descended into Sheol, the place of the righteous dead. He did not suffer torment but He declared the victory of God taking into His own possession the keys of death and hell. Let us clap our hands in praise and shout Amen

Ascending from there He transformed the place of the righteous dead into Paradise, raising it up with Himself on Easter Day into Heaven, from where in His spiritual body He revealed Himself to His apostles and disciples. For 40 days He walked with them, taught and prepared them to be His witnesses and ambassadors to all the earth in place and time.

On the 40th day after Easter, after instructing them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised out pouring of the Holy Spirit, He returned to heaven, ascending from their sight, the Son of Man exalted and glorified as Son of God, man with us, God with God, and Man with God.

Let us clap our hands in praise and shout Amen

10 days on Pentecost Sunday He poured out the Holy Spirit - and still is doing so every day today, on His people. And by the gift of the Spirit to all who believe in Him He gave the right to become children of God. As God’s children He prepares a place for us in His Father’s house, our new creation home. We will be resurrected into one community, with God being our God and we being His people, living in all God’s shalom peace & love without any harm whatsoever.

Through Christ, God the Father watches over us for ever, from our coming into life and our going forth in death. We can never avoid the hurts, the sorrows, the sicknesses that come to all people in this broken world but the Lord our God will not let us be harmed by the evil one. He is the watchman of our eternal being.

All this is revealed & affirmed by Christ’s Ascension

Therefore this is a great day.

For God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding trumpets and songs of praise in heaven and on earth. Let us clap our hands in praise and shout Amen