The Ascension of the Lord
Coming or Going?

One way of looking at the Ascension is that Jesus can do much more for us in his glory than he could while on earth. How does this work? It happens in two steps. First, he sends the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Second, the disciples become his witnesses to all the nations. So let’s look at the first step.
The Gospel of John that is read on the Vigil of Pentecost says that “there was . . . no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:39). Obviously the Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and the Son, so John is trying to get our attention. He means that we could not experience the gifts of the Spirit until Jesus had died and risen from the dead. While Jesus walked the earth, he chose to be limited in time and space, so that a few people could get to know and love him. But after his resurrection, he could be more effective by sending his Spirit to all believers. Because he is ascended into glory, he can live in all of us. Just as the power of the Holy Spirit caused Mary to be the mother of Jesus, so that same power enables Jesus to live in us. And that leads to the second step.
Before his death, Jesus began to collect a group of followers. Some got to know him more deeply and became disciples. The rest of the followers were merely curious or attracted by stories of miracles he had performed. They did not have the faith and courage to bring others to Jesus; some only stayed with him a short time. But after his ascension the disciples began to experience Jesus in each other. They could not help but be excited about that and spread that excitement to others. From the time of Jesus’ ascension to our own time, people have boldly proclaimed the gospel. So Jesus’ ascension actually makes him present to more people, not fewer. May we all experience that presence in the Spirit, seeing Jesus in ourselves and others.
Tom Schmidt

Short Version

The Gospel of John that is read on the Vigil of Pentecost says that “there was . . . no Spirit yet, because Jesus had not yet been glorified” (John 7:39). Obviously the Spirit is co-eternal with the Father and the Son, so John is trying to get our attention. He means that we could not experience the gifts of the Spirit until Jesus had died and risen from the dead. One way of looking at the Ascension is that Jesus can do much more for us in his glory than he could while on earth. How does this work? It happens in two steps. First, he sends the Holy Spirit to the disciples. Second, the disciples become his witnesses to all the nations. So let’s look at the first step.
While Jesus walked the earth, he chose to be limited in time and space, so that a few people could get to know and love him. But after his resurrection, he could be more effective by sending his Spirit to all believers. Because he is ascended into glory, he can live in all of us. And that leads to the second step.
Before his death, Jesus began to collect a group of followers. Some got to know him more deeply and became disciples. The rest of the followers were merely curious, or attracted by stories of miracles he had performed. But after his ascension the disciples began to experience Jesus in each other. They could not help but be excited about that and spread that excitement to others. May we all experience that presence in the Spirit, seeing Jesus in ourselves and others.
Tom Schmidt