25th May 2025
The Promise of Presence
Regulars at the 8am service will know that I am a fan of the Rev. Dr. Sam Wells, vicar of St Martin in the Fields in London. For Sam Wells, the Ascension marks a key shift in the overarching narrative of scripture, which he interprets as a five-act drama. At Ascension, we move from Act 3, Christ, to Act 4, Church. As Christ, his work in the world complete, returns to his Father in heaven, it is now for his disciples to continue the work, to be his witnesses "in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
The disciples, forty days after the Resurrection, are very different from the terrified, traumatised group who barricaded themselves in an upper room after the horrors of Good Friday. When Jesus was preparing them for his death, for his going away, they were filled with sorrow (John 16:6). Even in the aftermath of the Resurrection, they remain bewildered and disorientated, not quite sure what to do. But the group who return to Jerusalem, in obedience to Jesus' command, after they have watched him ascend into heaven are totally different. They are focused, joyful and obedient. They fill the hours and days between Ascension and Pentecost with prayer and with practical preparations for the next stage, when it comes.
How can this be? What has changed? It must be that, as Jesus has spent time with the disciples over 40 days, opening the scriptures to them, something has clicked. They finally understand what he is all about. They have finally learnt to take him at his word. And they have learnt to trust... most of all to trust in that promise that, though he himself is going away, he will be sending the gift his Father promised - the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is in the presence and power of that Spirit that the disciples will be launched out of the upper room and into the streets of Jerusalem, from there to bear witness to Jesus through good times and bad, massive successes and terrible persecutions.
Ascension has been called "the most underrated" of Christian festivals. But the promise of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus who fell upon the disciples two thousand years ago, and who lives in each of us now, is worth celebrating. We will be celebrating in our special service on Thursday 29th May - and, in true HTSJ style, with refreshments afterwards. Do join us as we gather like the disciples to worship and break bread together, as we pray for the movement of the Spirit in our church and community, as we celebrate the presence of the Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, with us forever.
