Where is Christ? This is a question that has been asked for thousands of years. Way back in the Old Testament times, when people were in trouble, they would ask "Where is the Christ? Where is the promised Messiah who will be our Savior?" Then Christ was born in Bethlehem. And the Wisemen from the East came asking, "Where is the King of the Jews? Where is the Christ?" And then when Jesus was an adult, people were looking for the Christ. They asked "Where is the Christ?" Is he John the Baptist at the Jordan River? Is he Jesus of Nazareth by the Sea of Galilee? Is he the miracle worker? Is he the teacher? Is he the man suffering and dying on the cross? And the question of the people was answered clearly when Jesus rose from the dead. Thomas saw him and said, "My Lord and my God." 'The Christ, my Messiah and Savior.'

And then 40 days after Easter, Jesus ascended into heaven. While the disciples watched on, he rose up into the air and disappeared into the clouds. Then, where was the Christ? Where is Christ today?

• Answer #1, Christ is in heaven.
• Answer #2, Christ is on earth.
• Answer #3, Christ is wherever two or three are gathered in his name in prayer, worship and fellowship.
• Answer #4, Christ is everywhere always, filling the whole universe.

And the final answer is: All are correct. Why can they be all correct? That is because Jesus is almighty God.

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Usually we say that at Christmas, Jesus left heaven and was born on the earth. Then at his ascension he left the earth and returned to heaven. In heaven he is "sitting at the right hand of the Father," in the position where he can hear all the prayers of everyone on earth and answer them when we call upon him in the day of trouble. But we also say that Christ is with us always, even to the end of the world. And we know that Christ is with us in a special way in the Sacrament of the Lord's Table. This is a great comfort and strength to Christians. We know that Christ is with us no matter what or where.

My devotion book for Ascension Day had an excerpt from a sermon by Saint Augustine (354-430). Some of the expressions sometimes sound quaint, but listen to a few words of the great teacher of old.

• "Christ is now raised above the heavens; but he still experiences on earth whatever sufferings we his members feel. He showed that this is true when he called out from heaven: 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' (Acts 26:14) And: 'I was thirsty and you gave me drink.' (Mt. 25:35-44)
• Christ, while in heaven, is also with us; and we, while on earth, are also with him. He is with us in his divinity and his power and his love; and we, though we cannot be with him in divinity as he is with us, can be with him in our love, our love for him. And so, we can have the joy of heaven with him already in heaven through the faith, hope and charity which unite us with him.

Where is Christ? I think the best simple answer is, "Christ is in heaven." That is because heaven is the place of God. If you ask where heaven is, then we say, "Heaven is wherever God is." And if Christ is with us, then we are in heaven -- albeit not in fulfillment until Christ returns at the end of the world. So, all believers are in heaven, especially those who have died in Christ and have been called to ascend to where he is.

Where is Christ? This is not always an academic question. There are times in this sinful world of pain and sorrow, that we ask this question in desperation. "Where are you Christ? Don't you see my pain and sorrow? Don't you see the misery of this world?" It becomes like the words of Jesus on the cross, "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me?" But Christ has not forsaken us, he has promised never to. In the time of trial and sin or danger, we may not see Christ. And the words, "Where are you Christ?" become a prayer, sort of like when a child calls out, "Mom, where are you?" or when mother calls out to her child, "Where are you?" It is not an information question, it means, "Please come here" or "Oh, there you are, here I come." "Where are you Christ?" means, "Lord, Jesus, please come to me so that I can see and feel and know that you are my Savior." Christ who is almighty in heaven, has the power and love to come to us and be with us.

Where is Christ? He is everywhere. He is with the thirsty who need a drink of water, with the hungry who need to be fed, with the weak who need help, with those who need to be clothed, who need to be visited, who need to be loved. He is with those who rejoice in the birth of a child, in the rebirth of baptism, and in every other celebration.

On Ascension Day, we do not celebrate that Jesus went away to heaven, but that he comes to us always in his wonderful love and grace.

Amen.