Six weeks ago I preached my final sermon at John Knox Presbyterian Church. It was Ascension Sunday. Together we had worked our way through the Gospel of Mark in a five month sermon series we called “Go to Galilee”. In the midst of this series church services went online due to the global pandemic and the congregation called their new senior pastor. It was fitting this Lord’s Day to recall Christ’s Ascension and to consider what it means for us today.

To view the sermon video on You Tube click here. Listen here if you like to the May 24th worship service or the sermon. Alternately, if this Scripture passage intrigues you, use the following study and reflection questions to think about the Ascension and your response to it.

The Gospel of Mark has a few different endings. Mark 16:9-20 is the ending scholars refer to as the ‘longer ending’ to Mark’s Gospel. It includes Jesus commissioning of the disciples and the Ascension of Jesus. In some ways this ending is sort of like the book of Acts in a nutshell. 

Questions for interim and transitional ministry leaders

1. In what way might you tie Christ’s ascension to the season of ministry you are leading at the present time?

2. To what timely work of the church might you commission the people of your congregation?

Questions for individuals and groups

 1.    Compare verse 14 in several different translations. Why do you suppose the eleven were together? How do you hear Jesus’ greeting: was it severe, was it meant to motivate, or did Jesus intend something else? 

2.    Read verses 14-16 alongside Matthew 28:16-20. What similarities do you find? What differences do you detect? 

 3.    Why do you suppose Jesus birth, death, and resurrection are more familiar to most Christians than his ascension? What role does culture play in this? Have you been part of a church that celebrated the ascension in a big way? If so, what did that look like?  

4.    What difference does Jesus ascension make in your understanding of Jesus’ presence with believers and with the church? 

Questions for families with children

1.    What does it mean to be commissioned to do something? 

2.    To what does Jesus commission us? 

Note: this is the first in a series of blog posts to focus on the Church Year as celebrated in the life of a congregation. For easy access to future posts sign up for my mailing list or contact me.