Heavenly Interaction
Well, after a significant discussion on Jesus' Ascension this last Sunday in Equipping Hour, I’m convinced this part of Jesus’ story beckons further exploration…
Let’s rehearse this rich biblical theme:
Ascension recognizes God’s initiation toward and interaction with humanity, the movement between heaven and earth.
Watch Sunday’s Sermon, “The Ascension” from our I Speak Jesus series.
God descends in His creation of Adam and Eve, breathing His breath of life into their nostrils. He comes and we receive Life.
In Genesis, Jacob falls asleep on a rock and has a dream where God’s angels from heaven ascend and descend upon him in the promised land.
And what is Jacob’s reaction?
“Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it…How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17).
Jacob’s exclamation is so honest. We forget God is here. How many of us need a moment like this today?!
That He chooses to love us. That He has endless resources at His disposal, and still gently shepherds us.
Know that this is God's heart. His desire. You may be running, scared, disoriented, anxious. But Heaven is working with you and for you.
God’s desire is to have His will done on earth, and in your world, you are the gateway for Him to move.
Heaven continues to descend and ascend in the story of the Tabernacle in Israel.
God’s thick cloud descends on the consecrated temple space, giving power, revelation, and counsel to His people. Moses, too, ascends Mount Sinai into a thick cloud.
This cloud image becomes a picture of God’s tangible presence with His people. See Exodus 19:9, 40:35, 38.
So, thousands of years later, when Jesus says to His disciples, “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (John 6:32)…
And to Nathaniel, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man,” (John 1:51)…
The disciple’s scripture-soaked minds begin to connect these dots.
Jesus is pulling their faith beyond their everyday perceptions.
He’s not from Earth. His home is heaven. He’s leading them into a totally different kind of life. What Dallas Willard calls, “the eternal kind of life, now.”
The disciples struggle to comprehend Jesus' words. And, in His death and resurrection, as if Jesus hadn’t already stunned them enough, in a baffling moment Jesus lifts from the ground into the sky and fulfills the prophesy of Daniel 7…
A cloud envelopes Him and, in the original language, “receives Him” as a heavenly reception and acceptance of His saving life and healing power.
God the Father, in a glorious cloud, welcomes His victorious Son home.
The awestruck disciples stare into the sky.
Two angels appear, mirroring for them this finished work of Jesus.
The Son of Man has returned home. And He has brought with Him all of us who want to go (Colossians 3:1-3).
The disciples leave in worship and with great joy (Luke 24:52).
And, as Jesus takes His seat in heaven beside our Father, only days later He will pour out the Holy Spirit in power upon those same baffled followers, and His Church is born (Acts 2:32-33).
As we worship Him, wherever we are, however we are, may He pour out the same power upon us,
Pastor Dave
PS. I’m so excited to have Dr. JoAnna Dias preaching this Sunday! She’s led us in worship and has a deep relationship with the Lord. I’m expectant that God will overflow in our time of worship together. Here’s as bit more about JoAnna in her bio:
Dr. JoAnna Dias grew up in Santa Cruz County and recently returned after 20 years of living in Southern California. She now lives in Rio Del Mar, but lived in Mount Hermon and Soquel growing up. She graduated from Monte Vista Christian School and spent summers in high school hanging out at the Boardwalk and eating Marianne's.
Professionally, she is a licensed clinical psychologist. She obtained her Doctorate in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University. Her doctoral internship was at Baylor University Counseling Center. She is licensed in California and Texas, and provides virtual services for individual adults throughout both states. She also has a physical office in Aptos.
JoAnna is also a trained spiritual director, having obtained her MA from Talbot School of Theology in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. She served at Yorba Linda Friends Church as one of the college pastors for 3 years. Two years ago, she founded Gracious Gift Ministries, which is a non-profit organization to facilitate relational experiences with Jesus through psychotherapy, spiritual direction, and pilgrimage to Israel. She has a passion for people to encounter Jesus' lovingkindness personally and to support their journeys as they walk with Him.
This summer she is looking forward to walking the Camino Portuguese, the Portuguese Way of the Camino Santiago, a walking pilgrimage in Spain started in medieval times. Following her pilgrimage, she will take a solidarity trip to Israel to deepen relationships with Jews and Christians, and to provide soul care to Christian leaders.
JoAnna has a love for travel and other cultures, as well as spending time with family and friends. She enjoys a rich cup of coffee, a good Saturday pilates workout, and discovering fun finds at Marshalls.