absence or ascension?

As today is Ascension Day, I'm reminded that I was meant to post about those Tom Wright lectures. Ah. Time has hurtled away from me recently, and everything is getting squeezed in (and sometimes out). What's the link? Wright made a point about the ascension that I found thought provoking. He said that often we shrink the idea merely to 'Jesus going back to heaven'.  It implies a sense of absence. But, he said, Jesus' ascension was about him taking his rightful place as king.

Whatever you may think about this, do you think it's true? That we can fall into the trap of making 'Ascension Day' about when Jesus 'went back to heaven' in the sense of leaving rather than taking up his rightful position as King?  

Is it a very human thing, I wonder, when someone 'leaves' us, to think not about where they are going and why - but the fact they will be absent from us? Do we think of Jesus as absenting himself from us, rather than 'coming' in a new way, whereby, as Wright puts it, heaven and earth are joined for ever? And of course Jesus' ascension preceded the pouring out of the Holy Spirit - indeed he himself said his 'going away' was necessary in order for this to happen. Do we think of the ascension merely as Jesus going up and away, rather than establishing his 'sovereign rule' and pouring out the Spirit (which is hardly an absence)?

Rembrandt - The Ascension

Please note this is my summary and related thoughts - I'm not claiming to speak for Tom Wright!

thinking theologically

The past three nights I've been privileged to attend a series of lectures by NT Wright - it's the first time I've heard him speak and he is a compelling communicator.  I always love learning by listening so this has been great for me - getting to think deeply and theologically (and take copious notes!).

The series has been titled (somewhat provocatively) 'Why we've all misread the gospels' - Monday focused on The forgotten story of the Gospels, Tuesday covered The Gospels in four dimensions - using a helpful metaphor of a quadraphonic stereo system, yesterday's came to the heart of the matter with Kingdom and Cross, and tonight looks at how we apply these things - the so what? factor.

Fascinating stuff - some of which I was already familiar with but I always like revisiting concepts and being reminded of things that have slipped from view.  Will try and post some summaries and impressions at some point.

On a personal level, it's been so refreshing to have the opportunity to reflect deeply and to be reminded of why I love studying theology - it always feels like a constant exercise in uncovering treasure.  It also feeds my mind, which is very much appreciated when I am often isolated in my learning and studying.


Image: not mine!