It's enshrined in the Apostles' Creed, central to the biblical story, and essential for Christian faith, but few Christians celebrate it or even think about it. The ascension of the Lord ushers in the time in which we live today, the time between Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and his return in glory. The ascension tells us what this time means and how to live in it.

The Bible doesn't take much time to tell us exactly what happened. In John 20, which we read last week, Jesus cautions Mary to refrain from embracing him because "I am ascending to my Father and your Father" (20:17). In other words, after the ascension Mary's relationship with Jesus would be different. In Acts 1 Jesus prepared the disciples as much as he could for his ascension. He commanded them to prayerfully wait for the Holy Spirit whom he would send, who would empower them to carry on his ministry "to the ends of the earth."

The moment itself is described in one verse: "He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight" (Acts 1:9). Of course, there's a lot more going on here than what first seems apparent. He was taken up before their eyes, but a cloud hid him. In the Old Testament clouds are always a sign of God's presence, like the shekinah cloud that led the people of Israel through the wilderness and settled on the tabernacle. In other words, Jesus didn't shoot up like a rocket ship from Cape Canaveral and disappear into the blue yonder. He disappeared into a God-meeting cloud. He passed from one dimension to another, from the earthly and physical to the heavenly and spiritual. Heaven may be closer than we think!

The disciples were left gaping into the sky. An angel appeared, as happens at every pivotal moment in the life of Christ. Quit staring into the sky, the angel says! "This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (v. 11). In other words, he's gone and he's coming back---so get to work, the work that will bring you to the ends of the earth.

Why did Jesus go back to heaven? Was it just to get away from it all after a harrowing time of ministry on earth? Just to go home? The ascension is the culminating act of Christ's work. Going to heaven is not a vacation after a hard time---it's more like entering the control tower of the universe. Sitting at the right hand of God (as the creed says) means that Christ rules all things from a position of ultimate power.

Q&A 30 describes Jesus' continued ministry from heaven. Now at God's side, he

• pleads for us before the Father as our Brother who has experienced all the trials and hardships of life on earth.

• leads his church, which is in the business of continuing all the things Jesus "began to do and to teach" (Acts 1:1), and protects us from our enemies.

• sends his Spirit and gifts to empower us to continue his work.

The vision of our Lord in heaven pictured in Revelation should inspire our faith in the ascended Lord. This mighty Savior, this exalted Lord, glowing with authority and power, holds the seven stars, representing his churches, keeping them safely in his grasp. Later he alone opens the scroll of history that will inevitably lead to the victory of the Lamb upon the throne.