Elvis has now left the building

Elvis has now left the building. This now classic phrase was first uttered in 1956 by one of Elvis’ concert promoters in a vain attempt to encourage his fans to stop hanging around for yet another finale.

The fans, however, didn’t believe him or just didn’t want to hear it. So as the promoter, one Horace Lee Logan, tried to ram the point home he continued, “"Please, young people... Elvis has left the building. He has gotten in his car and driven away.”

But the phrase, ‘Elvis has left the building’ has been oft quoted in popular culture, becoming the title of a film in 1994 and a Frank Zappa song released in 1988. And it sums-up something the sense of shock and disbelief that fans can feel when their hero suddenly leaves the stage.

This morning we too have to come to terms with a sense of shock and disbelief as we take on board the fact that Jesus too has, ‘left the building’. Or to put it in more traditional terms, he is ascended.

Because, this week we took another step in our Easter story when on Thursday we celebrated Christ’s Ascension to Heaven. Over the last forty days we have been hearing of the appearances of the risen Christ to the disciples and others. This week, however, marks the end of those appearances as he ascends to heaven, returning to his Father as his glorification is complete.


The feast of the Ascension is a confirmation of Christ’s victory over death and the cross and also acts as sign of our own destiny to return to God, our heavenly Father. As such, it is an opportunity to celebrate the joy and hope of our eternal calling.

But as one reads the stories of Jesus ascension, there is something else going on as well. First, when Mary Magdalene recognises the risen Christ at the tomb she clings on to him- but he says that she must let him go so that he can ascend to the Father.

In the account of the Ascension in Acts, we hear about the disciples criticised by the angels for staring up into the clouds as Jesus ascends. Indeed, they appear bewildered as it begins to dawn on them that Jesus really has left.

And finally in our reading this morning from John’s Gospel, Jesus looks ahead to the time after the ascension and prays for a group of disciples who seem to want nothing more than to leave the world behind and to disappear off to heaven with Jesus.

So, if the ascension is a fulfilment of all that Jesus had lived and died for, it is also a moment of crisis and loss for the disciples. One in which they seem to either be clinging on to him, staring after him or desperate to be in heaven with him.

However, there are no more finale, their hero is gone. Jesus has now left the building.

Together these scenes paint a picture of a group of disciples seemingly unable to face the future. They had left their jobs and homes, they had followed Jesus during his preaching ministry, they went with him to Jerusalem. They suffered the terror and tragedy of his trial and crucifixion and then- beyond their wildest dreams- he was raised from the dead.

For the disciples it has been a momentous three years which had utterly changed them and convinced them that God was indeed doing something miraculous in Christ. But now it seems that they are facing the biggest crisis of all- as Jesus seemingly leaves them on their own.

As Mary Magdalene clung onto him she must have thought back over the love and acceptance that he had shown to her and realised that she too had to share that inclusive love with others. But for now- she just couldn’t let him go.

As the disciples looked up into the clouds as Jesus ascended, they must have thought back over all that he had taught about the Kingdom of God and realised that they too had to proclaim that topsy-turvy Kingdom to others. But for now they felt rooted to the spot, staring into the clouds.

As the disciples feared for the future, they must have been reminded of all that Jesus suffered and may have realised that they too were called to lay down their lives for others and to build a community of love in his name. But for now, the idea of disappearing off to heaven seemed more inviting.

Somehow they just didn’t seem to have it in them to live up to all that Jesus stood for and died for. Indeed they seem to be so heavenly minded, that they are no earthly good.
So what do we learn from these responses?

Firstly, they remind us that if there are times when we don’t feel able to respond to Christ’s calling- we are not alone. From those who first witnessed Christ’s ascension, to saints down the centuries to each of us gathered here- none of us can do it on our own.

As I approach my own ordination to the priesthood, I have to say that this is a familiar feeling. As I look to other Christians, consider all that might be done and the responsibility of this office- running away sometimes seems a reasonable option. I was reading of a newly appointed medieval Abbot, who in a particularly low moment, once prayed; ““Wretch that I am, What have I done? What have I undertaken? What was I thinking of?” None of us can do it alone, Abbots included.

The ascension also reminds us that we do not come to Church to cling desperately to Jesus, neither to stare wistfully up into the sky, nor to leave the world behind. Rather we come to remember what God has done in Christ, to allow his gentle love to reshape us and to build communities that live out that love in the world.

Lastly, it reminds us that all we can ever do to respond to God’s love is through the power of His Spirit. A power for which the disciples prayed, but which they were yet to receive.

So if you hear these stories of the ascension and like the disciples feel yourself a little bereft or, like me, not really up to the job, then Jesus says to you;

“I will not leave you as orphans but my Father will send the Holy Spirit in my name and he will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give"