Hey folks! Our current unit in the kids curriculum is about the Apostle's Creed. We'll be in this unit until the beginning of Advent!
This week we’re going to talk about the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.
One of the wonderful things about the Apostle’s Creed is that it helps us to see, with amazing efficiency, the “big picture” of what is going on in God’s saving work for creation. There are, of course, things it doesn’t mention that are still important (the healing ministry of Christ, for example) but what it does include needs to be understood as being right at the center of the meaning of salvation.
The “ascension” of Christ to heaven is one of those things, though it’s often neglected.
There is a real sense in which the ascension of Christ “shows” us what we mean when we talk about being “saved”: as we are united to Christ by the “connection” (or indwelling) of the Holy Spirit, we share in all that is his including God’s very life.
Salvation isn’t just being pardoned from sin-guilt, it is being elevated, in Christ, to participate in the divine life (sometimes you’ll see people use words like “theosis” or “divinization” to describe it).
As the Holy Spirit unites us (makes us one) with Christ, we are drawn up (or “recapitulated”) into everything he has and is, including (wonder of wonders) being drawn into the triune “community.”
Salvation therefore entails a real “participation” (the greek word is “koinonia”) in the divine and triune life.
While this is all true, it is also important to insist that we remain creatures and not God by nature: we are there, but only by invitation, as it were.
Nevertheless this is truly a glorious mystery, deserving every bit of the angels’ longing gaze (1 Peter 1:12).
Scripture to consider:
John 3:16
John 20:1-18
Acts 1:1-11
Questions for your kids
What do you think it means that Jesus was taken up into heaven? (Hint: it means that he is King of all creation and that human flesh has been “admitted” into the life of the Trinity).
What do you think it it means that Jesus is the King of everything? What kind of king do you think he is? (Hint: good, kind, just, etc.)
Holy Imagination
Learning the faith isn't just about memorizing facts. It's about seeing the world as it really is: "charged with the grandeur of God."
I've used this illustration before, but if your kids are having a hard time with the idea of "recapitulation" or "being drawn up" into Christ's ascension into heaven, demonstrate it like this:
Take a napkin, unfold it on the table, and then pinch and pick it up from the center. Have the kids notice how the rest of the napkin falls underneath where you've pinched: the "pinched" part of the napkin is Christ, the rest of the napkin is his people, gathered up under him, going wherever he goes!
Peace,
Danny+