How was your holiday, yesterday? Which one? Well there were several. Yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day, a solemn day in Israel. On a jubilant day, people of Mexican descent celebrated Cinco de Mayo, their victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It was also our National Day of Prayer in the United States. Our country needs prayer! Before there was a holocaust or victory in battle, or even a United States, God sent his son, who is our crucified, risen and ascended Lord. Yesterday was Ascension Day for believers around the world. It’s convergence with National Day of Prayer was timely for me because I got to follow the example of the believers who went back to the upper room and prayed for ten days until Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Remember Marva Dawn explained that Americans know how to celebrate Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny flying in, but “we have not the foggiest notion about what to do with someone flying out.” So what does the Ascension mean to us? It means Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for us right now. At the right hand – in a position of absolute authority. Right now – right on time, when we need God’s help.
But wait, there is more! The Ascension also means that the same one who left us will return. God is not finished in our world. For 2000 years he has been working through the prayers of his people combined with the intercession of Jesus at the right hand of God and the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Jesus will return to earth someday. In fact it could be today. We have nine days to pray until Pentecost. Lorne Sanny says we ask God two vital questions which are answered in a day of prayer: first, “Who are you Lord?” and second, “What do you want us to do?” Stay in prayer today until you find answers to those questions.
