Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church. But like a plant that germinates underground before the first shoots emerge, the origins of the church lie deeper and earlier.
At Pentecost, the church made a visible and tangible appearance: the disciples preached publicly, and Peter powerfully proclaimed the crucified and risen Christ. Thousands were baptised. But what became visible here was already there before. Church does not begin suddenly but unfolds over several stages.
The foundation is Christ Himself: through His activity, His death, and His victory at Easter. Finally, at His ascension, the Risen One returned to the Father, announced the Comforter and Helper, and confirmed the disciples’ mission: “You shall be witnesses to Me …”
But in the meantime—between Christ’s ascension and Pentecost—the young church did not remain inactive.
After Christ’s ascension the church becomes active
What happened immediately after Christ’s ascension? Unlike at the time just after Easter, the disciples no longer withdrew in fear. They were not passively waiting to see whether the miracle of Pentecost would really happen. On the contrary, they set to work.
They stayed together in Jerusalem with one accord in prayer. They talked about the word of God. Even though the audience was still small— about 120 people—the gospel was proclaimed. And they organised themselves: they elected another Apostle, Matthias, to complete their circle.
These steps were not merely transitional events, but were already an expression of church life: fellowship, preaching of the word, prayer, ministry.
Ascension therefore does not mark God’s withdrawal, but is the transition into a new phase: Christ was no longer active visibly and physically, but through His church. The baton had been passed on. The church continued to work on behalf of the Lord.
It did not draw on its own resources, but lived from the authorisation of Christ. And the church began to do what it still does today: coming together, praying, preaching, calling, and sending.
“Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?”
This was the question which prompted the disciples to move on. It was a loving wake-up call. Yes, the Lord had risen. But that was no reason to be lifeless and inactive. On the contrary, it was a reason to move on. This call still applies to the church today: “Don’t just stand there in awe, but act! Live your mission!”
Because there are people in the middle of society who are waiting. Some are searching for the meaning of life and are wondering about where they are from and where they are going. They are wondering about the purpose of life and are seeking guidance. They are searching for their own self-worth. Others are already seeking salvation, driven by hurt, guilt, or longing, and are looking for a healing encounter with God.
The quest for meaning can become a search for salvation when it encounters Christ.
So the church is not called to stand by and watch, but to act: to encounter, accompany, and bear witness.
Heaven, altar, mission
Fortunately, the church and the people in the church are not alone in this mission. Because Christ’s ascension is not a farewell, not a distancing on His part: Christ has “gone”, has been caught up to heaven. Exactly the opposite is the case.
It is precisely through His exaltation that He becomes present everywhere: through the Spirit, through the sacraments, and through the living word of God. Those who stand at the altar do not look up wondering, but recognise that this is where heaven and earth meet. Thus, divine service becomes the place where Christ is present as the exalted Lord in the midst of His own—not as a distant figure, but as a presence in the Spirit.
The message of Christ’s ascension still applies today: “Now it’s your turn.”
Photo: AI-generated