Some composers “paint” with musical notes. They convey a picture just with music. Beethoven did that. In the “Credo” of his Mass in C Major the sopranos sing the words “et ascendit in coelum” (and he ascended into heaven) to a rising musical line ending on a high A. That is meant to picture the ascension of Jesus.

It’s easy to depict the Ascension. I grew up in a church that had a painting of the Ascension in the front and in the back a stained glass window picturing Jesus rising in the clouds.

This imagery comes from Acts 1:9: “As they were watching, [Jesus] was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” This description doesn’t tell us a lot. Where did Jesus go? Up beyond the sky?

As if in answer, two men in white appear and say to the disciples: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Luke 1:11). Wait, that doesn’t answer the question. It’s a typical divine answer. You’re puzzling about the wrong things. The issue isn’t about where Jesus went; it’s about what you’re supposed to do–share the faith by telling the story of Jesus.

The portrayal of the Ascension in music and art is beautiful and inspiring, but more important is the final message of Jesus: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

Read Acts 1:1-11 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne