Meditation 289
Ephesians 1: 15-23
In this passage Paul is describing the power of God at work in Christ, which is the power that gives reason for Ascension Day. Ascension Day is Thursday May 13 this year, and will be observed in some churches on Sunday May 16.
Paul writes that God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. This resurrection is the source of our hope. By rising from death Jesus conquered sin and death and so gives us a reason to look above the turmoil that may surround us. We often use images from nature to help us understand the resurrection, such as the emergence of butterflies from the cocoon. The resurrection of Jesus is more amazing that that. I can remember Dr Stephen Farris, one of my professors at Knox College, telling us that the resurrection of Jesus was unique in that it was once and for all. The resurrection of Jesus is not part of the cycle of nature, but it happened once and in his rising from death, Jesus overcame the power of sin and death.
Since Jesus has overcome sin and death, we have a hopeful place from which to live. In the passage we are reading today Paul is reminding the Ephesians that Jesus has been seated at God’s right hand in the heavenly places, which is above all other rule, power, authority, dominion, and every name both in this age and that which is to come. Jesus is exalted and has been exalted by God. Jesus is the source of authority in our lives and therefore the source of hope. In Jesus we may have confidence that the Kingdom of Heaven is accomplished and we are part of that kingdom.
The power of God which is at work in Jesus to have raised him from death and seated him in heavenly places, is the same power that is at work in the church. We are reminded that the church is the body of Jesus Christ. The church is not just an organization that has doing good as its goal. The church is the way Jesus is active in our world. We do perform good works in the name of Jesus, we are also the voice of hope for those who have lost or are losing their way.
Sometimes the work of the Church of Jesus Christ is strong and powerful, such as the times that the Moderator of General Assembly writes to the government on behalf of the impoverished or on behalf of the environment. Another significant task of the church took place a number of years ago in Brampton after a horrific shooting of children in a school in Ireland. The Protestant and Roman Catholic churches held a prayer service at the Catholic Church (the one with the bigger sanctuary). After the service was over traffic was stopped as the entire congregation crossed the intersection to have a time of fellowship at the Presbyterian Church. (The enormity of traffic stopping for a church event may be lost on those of you from smaller communities where the traffic still stops for funerals, but those of us who took part in that procession knew that this community action we huge). Other times the work of the Church is seen in the kindness of a friend who sits with one who is grieving. There is a story told of a child who went to visit an older grieving neighbour, and when the child came home was asked what he had done. “I helped him cry” was the answer. Sometimes the work of the Church is the wisdom to help someone cry.
Regardless of how we experience the power of Jesus, it is alive and in the face of doubt, sorrow or cruelty, the power of Jesus is real and alive and is our ultimate answer.