Bereft. That is how the disciples of Jesus were feeling forty days after Easter when he ascended into heaven. The one some of them had followed for three years, speaking and listening to him on a daily basis, was now gone from their sight. The one who had risen from the dead and appeared to them in the upper room, on the seashore, and on the road would do so no more. They were bereft of the most amazing person they had ever known.
Then they began to remember what he had said to them before those awesome days of triumph and tragedy that we call Holy Week. In John 14:3 he said, “….I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” And in John 14:18 he said, “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.” And in John 14:28 he said, “if you loved me you would rejoice that I am going to the Father.”
The mystery of Ascension Day is that although Jesus has ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, he is still with us through his spirit, in his Word, and in the holy sacraments. The conclusion of the Gospel according to Luke is the account of the bodily ascension of Jesus into heaven, but the conclusion of the Gospel according to Matthew is the declaration, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the close of the age.” Both are true at the same time.
There are times when some of us feel bereft as if we were sailing alone on the sea of life. Perhaps co- workers and colleagues move on to other jobs and other places. Perhaps a husband or wife is lost as a marriage ends through death or divorce. Perhaps the years roll on and a person loses almost everyone from their generation. Not so long ago I was shown the picture of a large wedding party as the elderly owner of the picture said, “they are all gone except for this one and me.” On another occasion a much younger person spoke of feeling left behind as one friend after another moved away to advance themselves in their job or in their education.
Some of this is a natural part of the course of life. People come and go in our lives. If we live long enough we will certainly experience loss and the heartache that comes with it. If we stay in one place long enough, we will see others leave, and may at times feel quite lonely. Psalm 102:7 speaks of this feeling when it says, “I lie awake; I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.”
But Jesus taught that God has his eye on the sparrow so that not one of them falls to the ground without the Father knowing it. (Matthew 10:29-31) And Jesus promised that he would never abandon us. Hebrews 13:5 quotes Jesus as saying, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” In this topsy turvy world, it is a great comfort to know that Jesus is always there for us. The familiar poem by Mary Stevenson continues to comfort people with the assurance that at no hour are they bereft of the power and presence of Jesus..
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND
One night a man had a dream he was walking along the beach with the LORD.Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.For each scene he noticed two sets offootprints in the sand: one belongingto him, and the other to the LORD.When the last scene of his life flashed before him,he looked back at the footprints in the sand.He noticed that many times along the path ofhis life there was only one set of footprints.He also noticed that it happened at the verylowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and hequestioned the LORD about it."LORD, you said that once I decided to followyou, you'd walk with me all the way.But I have noticed that during the mosttroublesome times in my life,there is only one set of footprints.I don't understand why whenI needed you most you would leave me."The LORD replied:"My son, my precious child,I love you and I would never leave you.During your times of trial and suffering,when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."
Pastor Gary Halverson
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