Prayer for the Ascension of Jesus. Of course, the word of a scientist is more valid in our world today than the word of a theologian. And if you want to talk about Ascension Day today, it’s a tricky business. Is Christ’s Ascension just a myth? Doesn’t that sound like a fairy tale?
Scientist Albert Einstein said that life seems like a big ship. This ship is crammed with the latest technology and has an excellently trained crew. Everything on this ship of life is best ordered. Only: The ship has no compass. And so the ship of life on the ocean goes back and forth in a zigzag course without a clear target because it does not have a compass that points it towards a specific destination.
Prayer for the Ascension of Jesus
Dear Jesus, I thank you that you came in human form and lived on earth. You always did what your Heavenly Father desired. Today, we celebrate the day when you left the world by being taken up into Heaven, where you sit on the throne. I remember and believe you will fulfill your promises to us. So I wait for your return to the earth, when sin and death will finally be defeated. Jesus, I need your presence in my life, your direction, and your help. Jesus, I pray in Your name, our Ascended Lord. Amen.
Navigating Life’s Journey: The Goal of Our Life
Is that so? Do you still have a goal for your life?
I don’t mean the next vacation or anything. For your life as a whole, do you still have a goal?
For example, many people do not believe in life after death. But if everything is over with a person’s death, is the whole goal and the whole meaning of our life now only in eating, drinking, working, sleeping, and enjoying? Is that all?
That’s why people today are afraid of dying. If I have no goal and the grave is the last stop, then, of course, I have to hold everything in this world as long as possible, then death is the worst thing that can happen to me.
Are we like a ship without a compass and a target? The next question: Do we still know the goal for this whole world?
The Ascension as a Guiding Light
For us, the feast of the Ascension can be a compass that aligns us again with a goal.
This day tells us – the goal is not death. The goal is life!
The goal of this world is not doom, destruction, and terror, but the goal of this world is glory. That means Ascension.
The old painters in the Middle Ages knew something about it. Back then, you did not paint the sky blue; instead, you painted it gold. With this, they wanted to express that Heaven is where shine and glory exist. And that is the goal.
Drawing Inspiration from Biblical Examples
If you have no target, you will always be characterized by fear and uncertainty. But the moment I have a goal for my life and the world and a compass that points me towards it, this goal already impacts this ‘misery’ in our lives.
Here are a few examples: In the story of the storm at sea – storms all around.
All the disciples think we will perish. And Jesus sleeps peacefully in the boat on a pillow. He knew that the storms were not the last but that the security was in the hand of God. The goal is not doom; the goal is to enter the rest of God.
Or another example. If Jesus could turn to all people with such sovereignty, everyone who was expelled at the time, whether they were the prostitutes, the tax collectors, whether the terminally ill were like them leprosy – everyone else has this kind of people shown with fingers: just don’t come in contact with them.
Jesus had no fear of contact, no fear of meeting all people indiscriminately. Do you know why? Even in the most disfigured face, he could still see the image of God.
And because for the greatest sinner with God, he still has a future perspective, a life chance. See the thief on the cross: “Today you will still be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43). That is why Jesus was able to deal with people in this way.
Devotional for every day here: Daily Devotional
Or look at a man like Stephen in Acts 7:54-60. Stones flew there, and he collapsed under the stones and died. But his eyes were not on the circumstances, not on the stones that were flying there. His eyes were on the target.
He says, “I see the sky open and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.” Because his eyes were fixed on the goal when the stones flew, he could pray, “Lord, do not count them as a sin.”
Or take a man like the apostle Paul, who has genuinely suffered abuses and fatalities and has been persecuted everywhere.
He knew something about what blows of fate is. On top of that, there is concern for the right faith in the churches. And this is when Paul writes a letter from the prison, the Philippians, which is brimming with joy.
But in this letter, Paul mentions the most profound reason for his joy in all tribulations: “Our home is in heaven.” That is my goal. Paul writes, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” (Philippians 3:13)
For me, the victory wreath is ready in heaven. Because he has this goal in mind, he can write so much joy in the middle of the prison, with a violent death in mind.
Or ask the many martyrs in church history why they died for their faith. They will all say: We had the goal in mind, the glory of heaven. That shapes our earthly life here.
Living with Purpose and Perspective
Therefore, this feast of Ascension wants to be like a compass that directs our gaze away from all possible adverse circumstances in this world and towards heaven, our homeland, our roots, and our goal. Prayer for the Ascension of Jesus helps us see the goal.
We only have the alternative: Either we are like a ship without a compass with our whole life, and we live aimlessly. Or else, we have a deep calm and security because we know that there is a goal with God, and there is one who aligns us with this goal: Jesus Christ.
So, let’s pray for the Ascension of Jesus.
Setting a Course: Prayer for the Ascension of Jesus
Almighty Eternal God, fill us with joy and gratitude because you have elevated man through the ascension of your Son.
We are called to glory into which Christ preceded us and, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns with you forever. Amen.
Also read: Jesus Resurrection day
