Artists and poets interpret,
as best they can, strange
stories found in Scripture
but necessarily struggle
to make sense of old pre-
scientific world views.
We now know there is no
heaven ‘up there’ so maybe
it’s not entirely accurate
to call Christ’s departure an
Ascension; in which case,
how did Jesus make his exit?
‘A cloud took him out of their
sight’ is unproblematic, as
many people have disappeared
in mountain mists; so although
the Blakean shapes and colours
in this painting are attractive,
I’d prefer an image in which Jesus
disappears into the mist, leaving
his disciples standing there puzzled.
What is most striking is that they
do not appear to have been left
sad or bereft at his departure,
so they clearly took Jesus at his word
when he promised he would return.
They had enjoyed his risen company
for forty days, during which time
he walked through locked doors,
appeared and disappeared, so maybe
this departure wasn’t quite as
astonishing as it might have been,
which explains why they cheerfully
returned to Jerusalem without him,
to spend their time in prayer, ready
for the promised Day of Pentecost.