Nestled as it is between Easter and Pentecost, the feast of the Ascension can be easy to ignore as we plan our liturgical and faith formation activities. But it is an event that had great import in the life of Jesus and his first followers. And it's an event that tends to cause confusion for folks across the age span, so it's worth devoting some time to discussing it in community.
When teaching and preaching about the Ascension story, it's important to consider what the young people in our midst are able to understand about life, death, and resurrection. If we tell children that “Humans die, but they don't come back to life, and Jesus was fully human, but he's the exception because he was also divine,” that is a lot for them to wrap their minds around. To then go on to expect them to understand that after Jesus died, was resurrected, and returned to his friends, he then left again to “sit at the right hand of God forever” is a big ask.
It will be crucial to present the information in a way tailored to meet the needs of each age group present. For preschool children, it will usually be enough to tell them that Jesus had to leave his friends to go be with God, emphasizing that Jesus’ love always stays with us. It can be helpful to invite these learners to reflect on times when their parents or other loved ones had to go away, either for a time or permanently in death, and if there are objects, memories, or practices that keep them connected to that person's love. Young children can understand that our prayers at home and the things we do in church are ways we stay connected to Jesus’ love.
Early elementary students are undergoing a journey of learning to understand what death is and that it is permanent. Each student may be in a different place on that journey. For these learners, you can provide regular reminders that, although Jesus “came back” after he died, humans cannot, and even Jesus could not physically stay forever and had to go be with God (if your denomination/tradition makes frequent use of terms like “Heaven,” “Kin/Kingdom of God,” or “Heavenly Kingdom,” this is a good age to begin introducing those terms, and taking care to explain them often).
For older elementary students, tweens, and teens, who understand the broad concepts of death and resurrection, you can focus on Jesus's promise to send his spirit to be with the disciples (and us) and invite them to ponder what the Ascension might have been like for Jesus, God, and the people who bore witness.
Another aspect of the Ascension story that it is important to emphasize is that there are different versions of it in scripture that vary in the details of when/how exactly the Ascension happened. Lean into the mystery of this event and let learners know that even some of the greatest musicians, poets, and painters in history wondered just what was going on in the Ascension story. Experiment with having small groups each read a different version of the story. Consider comparing and contrasting different versions and inquiring about what stands out to learners about each one (especially if you have a depiction in your church building). Some great places to start are the Ascension paintings by Salvador Dalí, He Qui, and from the Jesus Mafa collection; poems by Christina Rossetti, Gerald Griffin, and Emily Dickinson; and music like “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise,” “The Ascension” by Sufjan Stevens, or portions of Bach's “Laud to God in All His Kingdoms.”
A popular activity used to teach young people about the Ascension is releasing a balloon “into the heavens,” but balloons (even those marketed as biodegradable) can have a lasting negative impact on the environment. I recommend doing this activity inside (perhaps with one or many depictions of Jesus attached the balloon string) and inviting learners to use their imaginations and ponder what Jesus might have encountered as he departed beyond the confines of a ceiling.
However you choose to mark this special moment in the life of the Christian community, may it be filled with joy and hope!
