The ascension describes how Jesus said goodbye.
How do we say goodbye: at the doorstep, at the schoolgates, to our work colleagues, to our friends and family, on ordinary days and on extraordinary days (new school, holiday departures, at a funeral etc). What do we say on those occasions?
Look again at how Jesus said goodbye: he commanded his disciples to go out and make disciples, (Matthew 28.19-20) and promised the Spirit to help us (Luke 24.29)…..
On her last day at school her 'goodbyes' were sad;
She left her friends at the gates with a tear.
She was worried about all the new things she'd face:
New people, new teachers, with fear.
But it didn't take long for her fear to give way;
Felt she no longer needed to cry.
Making new friends, she enjoyed her new school
And here's the reason why:
There's joy, and a promise of new life from God
That comes after saying 'goodbye'.
The caterpillar's mum said, "One day you'll change;
You'll no longer be able to crawl."
The caterpillar enjoyed having one hundred legs,
Didn't want to say 'goodbye' to them at all.
But it didn't take long for his sadness to go;
As he became a bright butterfly.
He couldn't crawl any more but he could float in the air
He fluttered and flew, and here's why:
There's joy, and a promise of new life from God
That comes after saying 'goodbye'.
Dad didn't want his son to leave home.
"We are good friends," he said, "I'll miss him:
I don't know who else would take me out each day
To the gym, then the pub, then the gym."
But before long Dad's sad goodbye turned to cheer
As he heard his first grandchild's first cry.
Suddenly his family had become full again
And here's the reason why:
There's joy, and a promise of new life from God
That comes after saying 'goodbye'.
As they followed Jesus up a high hill
His disciples wondered aloud
What he would do next, then they watched amazed
As his feet disappeared in a cloud
He'd told them to spread his good news around,
He'd send the Spirit to help them to try.
So they were not sad, they danced and they sang
And here's the reason why:
There's joy, and a promise of new life from God
That comes after saying 'goodbye'.
Note
Based on my original talk After saying goodbye, Croxteth, Ascension Day 2004.
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