The Ascension of Our Lord - Ephesians 1:15-23

Christos Pantocrator (Colored pencil, graphite, and
gold leaf composite on paper, 3.75"x7.25"), 2017

Lectionary Sketch of the Week

Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵ For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), Eph 1:15–23.

The Ascension is not Jesus' farewell and goodbye to the Church. It is His ascension to the right hand of God the Father in power and authority. The Ascension means that the advocate for humanity is far and above all things. This is a bit more of a "sketch" this week. I have gone with a somewhat traditional figure of Christ as Pantocrator ("Ruler over all" or "Almighty"). The red inner robe signifies His Divinity. The blue outer robe signifies His humanity. The gold leaf signifies the heavens. I have included the world in this image to make it clear that there is nothing above His rule. Christ's wounds in this image remind us that His ascension came by way of the cross. Through the blood that was poured out on the cross, Christ has redeemed us. And now continues to advocate for us on the basis of his cross and resurrection. With his right hand raised, he gives blessing. As Luther was apt to remind us, Christ's ascension (like all of his life, ministry, death, and resurrection), was not for Himself. It was for us.