What Do We Learn From The Joy Of The Ascension?
Good Morning Friends,
The ascension of Jesus produced elation when it happened because the disciples realized what amazing benefits would come to them when Jesus returned to the Father. When Jesus ascended, all the promises regarding the Spirit’s ministry to the disciples were about to be fulfilled. The Kingdom was coming in an unexpected way. So, What Do We Learn From The Joy Of The Ascension?
Scripture: In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.
Acts 1:1-12 (NRSV)
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Luke 24:44-53 (NRSV)
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah
Psalm 24 (NRSV)
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Mark 16:19 (NRSV)
Message: If you look at the calendar you will see that it has been forty days since Easter. Today is the celebration of Ascension Day. It is one of the most neglected feast days of the Christian Church. In ignoring the festival, the opportunity is lost to reflect on its message. If we marginalize its truth, we rob ourselves of an important component of our Christian belief. Friends, without the Ascension, the work of Christ would be incomplete. Perhaps because Ascension Day falls on a weekday it does not get the notice it deserves. This is a pity because it is full of significance. It is important because of Christ’s continuing ministry for us in heaven. It is important because it empowers Jesus to be distributed everywhere. And as a weekday event, it reminds us that Christianity is not just something for Sunday but for all time in all places. So, in this way the Ascension of Christ to the throne reminds us that Jesus rules every day and everywhere. The gospel writer Luke, who also wrote Acts, is renowned as a careful historian. When he recorded the Ascension, he rooted it in its historical setting by recalling the place of the event – at Bethany…the place Jesus called home. It was a very real event in history, with witnesses, but also a mystery in the sense that it is beyond the scope of our human experience. The Ascension takes us into the realm of the supernatural and signaled the ending of a chapter in his earthly life. Here the Resurrection and the Ascension are milestones in the process whereby Jesus finally enters the glory of God. The Jesus of Earth becomes the Christ of heaven. This is an historical event but also a spiritual one. Just as death and the grave could not hold Jesus, so the Earth could not hold him. When the time came for him to return to his Father the event is marked in history and mystery. But it is the beauty from the spiritual perspective of the Ascension of Jesus that helps us to see how it is possible for him to be close to each one of us in every part of our lives. And that is very practical and moves us to act in the Spirit we have been given and in the structure of what remains in our life together is service to our Lord. In a very practical way the Ascension reminds us of the Second Coming of Jesus to judge the world and our need to be ready to give account of our stewardship. We are not to stand looking up to heaven all the time but are encouraged to continue the work of our Lord realizing Christ’s Spirit will never leave us.
Pray our joy gives witness to the risen Lord in ways that call non-believers to conversion. Pray we be effective witnesses to Jesus who sits on the right hand of God the Father. Pray we realize that the Resurrection and the Ascension form two parts of one continuous movement resulting in the glorification of Jesus. Pray we be inspired by the Ascension of our Lord Jesus and what it means for our eternal happiness. Pray we believe in the power of Jesus Christ who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and the Father as one God forever and ever. Pray we believe that Jesus will return in the same way he left. Pray on this Day of Ascension that our hope is magnified and shared to further God’s work. Pray we delight in the Lord and His Kingdom.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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