– In the Lutheran cathedral in Copenhagen, Denmark, a person can admire Thorwalden’s statue of the Christ, at the very front of the church. However, to see the eyes of the Christ-figure, you have to do something unusual. To look into the eyes, you must kneel in front of the statue — then look up. It is only when kneeling at his feet that you look into his eyes.

– The sculptor’s point of view was obvious: he had carved the statue, so that the viewer needed a change of perspective to fully see Christ’s face!

– What is on this feast of The Ascension of the Lord

– So, what might Christ ask of us today, as we look up to him, ascending into heaven?

– Because of Jesus’ Ascension, the original disciples needed what we call a PARADIGM SHIFT

– You see, as we process information from the world around us, we do so through several filters:

– There is all that happens to us, minute by minute

– We then filter that data through Belief – what we have been taught and believe is possible

– Then we filter that data through Experience – we accept those things which confirm what we have been taught; we filter out any position that would raise questions about our present perspective

– Then we filter that data through Analysis – so we eventually focus on what we analyze to construct our view of reality; that means that only a limited amount of data becomes …

– Our view of reality

– Jesus’ Ascension challenged their ancient, Jewish world view

– In fact, what God challenged first was their nationalism

– Notice in Acts 1:6, that the disciples ask:

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

– Following Jesus’ resurrection, his disciples were hoping for political power

– They were expecting Israel to enjoy (once again) global influence

– But because of Jesus’ Ascension, they had to learn that …

1. God’s kingdom is spiritual in its character

2. God’s kingdom is international in its membership

3. God’s kingdom is gradual in its expansion

– In other words, God’s plan is to build a global Church

– And first, he is going to change them

– The basic reason is told to us ⇢ by angels

– Consider the priest’s words right after the “Our Father,” when he says:

– “Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

– In every mass, we remember that Jesus will come again…

– Only 11 apostles saw him go ⇢ when he comes, “every eye will see him”

– He left alone ⇢ when he comes again, countless millions of holy humans and angels will come with him

– He left from a localized place ⇢ his return will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other

– Well, remember my opening story?

– What does a person need to do, to see Jesus’ eyes on the statute in a cathedral in Copenhagen?

– Bow at his feet …

– And that is how we live life to the full ⇢ by letting Jesus ask of us every…thing

– Every friendship, relationship, career, hobby ⇢ every…thing

– As a hymn puts it (which I sang countless times growing up Protestant):

“All to Jesus I surrender, humbly at His feet I bow; worldly pleasures all forsaken, take me, Jesus, take me now.

— I surrender all, I surrender all; all to Thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.”