“After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts 1:9).

What is your biggest frustration in life today? Is it the same thing that frustrated you a year ago? Six months ago?

Replace the word frustration with concern. What is your greatest concern in life today? Is it the same thing that you were concerned about a year ago? Six months ago?

Replace the word frustration or concern with fear. What is your greatest fear in life today? Is it the same fear that you had a year ago? Six months ago?

Replace the word what with who. Who is your biggest frustration in life? Who is your greatest concern? Who is your greatest fear? Does that change any of your answers?

Losing sight of Jesus

Do you think the disciples were frustrated? Do you think they were concerned? Do you think they were afraid when Jesus left them? When Jesus ascended into heaven? Frustrated that they could no longer see him, hear him, or talk to him? Concerned that they wouldn’t know what to do or what to say or where to go? Afraid that the same people who hated, persecuted, and killed Jesus would now hate, persecute, and even try to kill them?

Their frustrations, concerns, and fears two thousand years ago when Jesus ascended into heaven are probably very different than our frustrations, concerns, and fears today. But the root of those frustrations, concerns, and fears is the same. It’s a lack of trust. It’s a lack of trust in our crucified and risen, our ascended and returning Lord. It’s a lack of trust in the Savior who is out of sight but always with us.

Keeping Jesus’ work in sight

But why? Why did Jesus ascend back into heaven?

Because he had finished the work that he had come to earth to do!

Jesus, the Son of God, had come to earth to be holy in our place so that we could be holy in him. Jesus had come never to get frustrated, worried, or afraid so that in him God could say the very same things about us.

Jesus, the Son of God, had also come to earth to satisfy God’s justice, appease God’s anger, and endure God’s wrath. Jesus had come to die to pay the wages of our sin so that in him we could be fully and freely forgiven.

Our frustrations, our concerns, our fears—under his feet. Conquered. Confined. Controlled.

God has given us proof by raising his Son from the dead. Jesus spent 40 days assuring his disciples that he was alive, encouraging them in their faith, and preparing them for the work he had given them to do.

Done. Finished. Completed. All of it. So Jesus returned to heaven, disappearing from our sight, and took his rightful seat at the right hand of God the Father almighty, where he is ruling all things for our spiritual and eternal good.

And he’s doing all of that with all of his—with all of our—enemies under his feet. Sin, death, and the devil—under his feet. Our frustrations, our concerns, our fears—under his feet. Conquered. Confined. Controlled.

Ascension speaks to our frustrations, concerns, and fears. Our ascended Lord quiets them.

PRAYER: Jesus, you are my risen and ascended, my all-knowing and all-powerful, my wise and loving Lord. Let nothing in this world ever hide you from my eyes of faith! Amen.

Author: Stephen Helwig
Volume 112, Number 05
Issue: May 2025