Hail the day that sees him rise - Ascension 2009

It is a wonderful experience to visit the places where Jesus was in the days of his humanity. We visit may Bethleham and see the place where his birth is commemorated or travel to the Galilee and visit Nazareth, the place of his childhood and the early days of his ministry. Whatever the place we will experience the Bible in a new and changing way. When we walk along the shore of the Sea of Galilee travel in a boat on the sea itself the experience brings the parables and teachings of Jesus alive.

There are many sites in Israel where we can stand and look at the very same sights which Jesus would have seen. The buildings may have changed, but the hills and valleys are just the same ones which were viewed not only by Jesus but by those great names of the Bible. At this time of Ascensiontide the Mount of Olives is such a hill which springs to mind. St Luke in his gospel records that Jesus led his disciples out as far as Bethany and there ascended into heaven (Luke 24.50-52). Again in Acts, Luke records that the Mount of Olives is near Jerusalem about a sabbath day's journey away. It was from this mount that the disciples returned after the Acscension (Acts 1.6-12). Although St Matthew records similar events in the Galilee (Matthew 28.16-20), it is the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem which is the traditional place of the Ascension. One key point to note is the words of the angels in Acts 1.11 when they told the disciples "This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. In the part of the Bible which we know as the Old Testament, there is a passage in Zechariah 14 which refers to the Day of the Lord which is coming. Zechariah prophecies that the Lord, whom we know as Messiah Jesus, will stand on the Mount of Olives at his future coming.

As we walk down the Mount of Olives today we pass through a Jewish cemetery. It is a place long believed to be the location for the coming of the Messiah before he enters his own city. We live now in a time where many of the prophecies of the Bible have already been fulfilled. Others still await their fulfilment and many of the them concern Jesus and his return to Jerusalem. During these last 10 days of Eastertide we wait in eager expection not only for the coming of the Holy Spirit which we commerate at Pentecost, but also for the coming Day of the Lord when every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7). The chorus of a song which we sang in church on the Sunday before Ascesion Day describes this so well.

Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
Out of Zion's hill salvation comes.