Dear Church,

What a Resurrection Sunday we had!  The sanctuary was overflowing, and we even ran out of communion! Seeing so many gathered to celebrate our risen Lord was a joy. And more than numbers, we sensed His presence with us. He moved among us, stirred hearts, and reminded us that the tomb is still empty, and Jesus is still alive. For the last 2,000 years, Jesus our Messiah has been seated at the right hand of the Father. As He said in John 16:10, “I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer.” He came from heaven, walked among us, died, rose, and then returned home to the Father (John 16:28). You can summarize the life of Jesus this way: In Heaven. On Earth. Back in Heaven. And how does Scripture describe His current position? Exalted. Glorified. Enthroned.

Philippians 2:9–11 says, “God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Think about that:

• The Victim has become the Victor.
• The crown of thorns has been replaced by a crown of eternal glory.
• The spear has been replaced by the scepter of divine authority.

And because He walked this earth, He knows what you’re going through. He sympathizes with your struggles. Because He now reigns in heaven, He has the power to help you through them. Every time we come to His throne of grace; we are not turned away, because Christ is there to meet us. The ascension teaches us how to live now: with our eyes lifted. I have heard the story of a young boy who flew his kite one windy day until the kite disappeared into the clouds. A passerby asked, “How do you know it’s still there?” The boy replied, “I can feel it tugging on the string.”

That’s how it is with Jesus. Though we don’t see Him with our eyes, we feel His Spirit tug in our hearts. The Holy Spirit pulls us upward (towards Him) away from sin, away from fear, away from this world, toward heaven. And when we finally arrive there, we won’t feel like strangers. We’ll be home.

Be Encouraged,

Mathews