The Ascension is the final event in the life of Jesus. It is the moment when Jesus returns to the Father. However’ it’s meaning is best understood in terms of what it meant for the disciples. The Gospel of Luke Is the one who tells us most about this event by recording it both at the end of the gospel and at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles. It closes the gospel and opens the acts.
It is a succession event. It is concerned with the handing on of Jesus’ mission to his disciples. The disciples are to be the witnesses to the mission and message of Jesus to all nations. He declares that their mission will not start until they have received the power from on high with the coming of the Holy Spirit. This will enable them, empower them, to fulfil his mission, to spread it throughout the nations. The final message of the gospel of Matthew concludes with the assurance that “ I will be with you always”. Jesus will be ever present to his disciples
I am reminded of the incident between the prophet Elijah and Elijah his servant. As Elijah was about to be taken up to heaven on the fiery chariot, Elisha wanted to be with him. Elijah asked him why and what did he want. He replied ”Let me have a double portion of your spirit”. Elijah replied that if he sees him taken up his request will be granted. This is a transfer of prophetic authority. This foreshadows the events of the ascension involving both a departure and a transfer of authority to carry on a mission’
Jesus clearly intended that his mission would be carried on and that his disciples would be the ones who would carry it on. However, this commission and empowering needed to go beyond the lives of the disciples. It is more than just a reference to the disciples but also to the many disciples who would fulfil that role. In this context the disciples represent the church, the community of disciples and all have been commissioned and empowered in their baptism. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come not only to these apostolic disciples but to all his disciples.
Pope Francis made it clear that every believer, every disciple, is meant to carry on this mission. It is not just for the hierarchy or for an elite within the community. Each disciple must be a witness and be proactive in proclaiming the gospel through the fulfilment of the life of a disciple of Jesus. Every member of the faithful is a witness to Jesus. if they’re not living the life of a disciple, it is a poor witness. If they are living the life of a disciple, they are proclaiming Jesus and his mission and message. The only gospel that many non-believers will hear is the gospel that is embodied in the life of an individual disciple of Jesus.
by David Walker