This week, we celebrate the feast of the Ascension, which commemorates the taking up of Jesus into heaven. This day is observed 40 days after Easter day. The Bible tells us what happened on that day in Acts 1:1-11. Growing up, I knew more about Elijah’s chariot of fire than the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, but I needed to learn the biblical reference for the story. With this knowledge in hand, accepting the Ascension of Jesus into heaven was easier without asking too many questions. It’s not that there were no questions because the story was in the Bible. It was like saying, sure, this is something people in the Bible do.

My learning about Elijah’s chariot of fire, was through the Sesotho hymn, Joko Ya hao, in the last verse:

Ho tla ba jwang ha ke siya
Kobo ena e bolang
Ke be jwaloka Elia
Ka koloing e fofang?
Ke tla opa
Ke tla opa ka diatla
Ke tla re Halleluya
Oh, ke tla re Halleluya
Halleluya ho senatla
Se nkenyang ho Jehova

I later learned that the reference for Elijah’s chariot of fire is 2 Kings 2:11. The story of Elijah’s ascension into heaven alive and how it’s told gives some insight into what happened at the Ascension of Jesus. Even though it does not explain it thoroughly, and maybe that’s all we need to know for now.

REVD RAKGADI KHOBO
CHAPLAIN