Cloister Thoughts
He ascended! What does that mean? Jesus was loved so much that possibly there were followers that wanted to cling to him, to hold tightly to him. John’s gospel records Jesus’ words when he met Mary at the empty tomb. “Do not hold me...,” he said, suggesting that Mary was reaching out to hold him, hug him, cling to him. But, Jesus would not let her. Maybe he knew that clinging cripples us. Clinging is a sign of unhealthy dependency and that was not what Jesus had taught or encouraged. Clinging inhibits us from moving on to the next chapter of the journey. Clinging and holding on do not allow freedom for either party.
The thought of clinging is reminiscent of the end of an- other prophet’s life. Moses was only human and not divine and yet he was deeply loved by his followers. The last chapter of Deuteronomy records his death and burial and suggests that people may have wanted to cling to Moses, too. Deuteronomy 34 says that “Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab...and he buried him in the valley...”(vv.5-6). Some scholars are convinced that it was the Lord who buried Moses. As one pastor writes, God knew that the people had a clinging tendency and God would not allow it. Mourning was allowed, but not clinging. There was no cemetery plot. The people were able to move on with their journey, rather than cling to Moses, even after his death. For the Israelites to move on, they had to let go of Moses.
So it was for the disciples. If they were to “witness to these things” as Jesus commanded them to do, there had to be a letting go. As there was no gravestone for Moses, there would be no place for the disciples to cling to Jesus either. It is not always easy to let go. Obviously the Israelites mourned a long time. Mary did not want to let go, either. Letting go of those we love seems contrary to being in relationship with them. And yet, letting go is necessary. Maybe this letting go is a two way street. Maybe it is not only the disciples – and us – who are to let go. Maybe Jesus, too, had to let go. Is it possible that the Ascension allowed Jesus to let go of his disciples, in love?
Jesus and the twelve had traveled together, eaten together, even gotten in trouble together. They had worshipped together and shared common rituals together. There had been that final Passover meal together, where they had not only celebrated that the Lord had passed over the Hebrews in Egypt, but where Jesus had become like a slave girl and washed their feet. These were thirteen men bound together in complex, intimate and intricate ways. Je- sus had been teaching and training them, as well as loving them. In order for them to become fully the “witnesses of these things” that he had prepared them to be, I believe Je- sus had to let them go.
Can we envision Jesus as parent and teacher who with courage opens his arms and lets his disciples “leave the nest?” If we can do that, then maybe we can understand the necessity of the Ascension. The Ascension was the time of letting go. It was a moment for the disciples to let go of Jesus, in love, and it was a moment for Jesus to let go of the disciples out of his love for them. By ascending to the heavens, and thereby, letting the disciples go, Jesus freed them to be “witnesses to these things.”
When he blessed them before his parting, Jesus commanded them to witness and he promised them, “I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.” Jesus promises to be with them in Spirit, which the Ascension makes possible. He also promises that they will receive the dynamic power of God.
They will be able to be witnesses. With the power of the spirit, they will witness to the suffering of the Christ; they will witness to the resurrection of Jesus; and they will be able to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations. In the departing and letting go of the Ascension, Jesus frees them to be these amazing witnesses for his own sake.
We become the evidence of the living presence of Christ among us. We are an Easter people with a story to tell the world.
Love and peace, Rick
