Easter 7 – Ascension Day (Observed) May 16, 2021
Luke 24:44-53
Ascending with Joy!
v.51-52 While [Jesus] blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy…
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Dear friends in Christ, we have come to the end of the celebration of the great and joyful Easter season in the church year. This is the final week in the "week of weeks" in the special season that marks the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. Indeed, after Jesus' suffering and death on Good Friday, He rested in the tomb for three days, but rose in glorious victory on Easter morning. He then went on to give substantial proofs to His disciples and many others that He had indeed risen from the dead.
Jesus showed them His wounds. As the blessed Fourth Century Church Father, St. Augustine notes (NPNF1 6:456), "He arose, with His wounds healed, His scars kept. For this He judged expedient for His disciples, that His scars should be kept, whereby the wounds of their hearts may be healed. What wounds? The wounds of unbelief. For He appeared to their eyes, exhibiting real flesh." Christ showed to them all the holes in His hands, feet, and side where cruel nails and spear had pierced His flesh. But now, risen in glory, these scars bore witness to the suffering He endured to wipe out our debt of sin—to free us from bondage to sin, death, and the devil. He rose—bodily—with real flesh. Indeed, prior to our Gospel text, Jesus proved that He was no ghost—no mere disembodied spirit—by eating a piece of broiled fish before them!
Over the course of 40 days, Jesus appeared to many and gave convincing proofs of His resurrection and defeat of death. Then He took His disciples to Bethany—the Mount of Olives—and there was visibly taken up into heaven before their eyes. As He ascended He blessed them. And they "returned to Jerusalem with great joy."
Can you imagine, beloved? The disciples had been witnesses to the arrest and crucifixion of their Lord and Master. By grace, He appeared to them after His resurrection. He ate with them. Spoke with them. He taught them. But now He left them. And their response is not sorrow—not grief or fear or trepidation—"What are we going to do now that Jesus is gone? How are we going to carry on?" No, indeed. They fell on their faces in humble worship as He ascended before their eyes—convinced of His divinity at last. They worship and then return to Jerusalem with great joy—the blessing and promise of Christ resting upon them.
For you see, it's not as though Jesus was abandoning them. No indeed, He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they would be "clothed with power from on high." For was sending "the promise of the Father" upon them. How would they be clothed with power? Who was this promise of the Father that Jesus would send? None other than the Holy Spirit. The Third Person of the Holy Trinity would come upon them at Pentecost (50 days after Jesus' resurrection) and He would clothe them with power—filling them with faith and steadfastness in the words and promises of Jesus. More about that next week as we celebrate the Festival of Pentecost!
Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father—the position of power and authority. Indeed, as Jesus said to His disciples near the end of St. Matthew's Gospel record, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." He now sits in glory at the Father's right hand, with all things in subjection to Him. He is there to rule the universe and His church—that His Gospel may be proclaimed into all the world—so that many people may hear and be saved.
Jesus' Ascension is actually good news for the disciples of Jesus—it is Good News for you and me! For now He rules over all things—for your good and for mine. "Well, pastor, it certainly doesn't look like it! I mean, just take a look around you—look at the state of the world—our families—our country—our communities. It seems like a disaster." Nonetheless, what Jesus has declared to be IS true. He is risen from the dead—and He is working to preserve His faithful people.
For remember, Jesus did not come to sit in a King's palace and be served by humanity, but rather to serve humanity with His life, death, and resurrection. This is why, during those 40 days of Easter when He was with His disciples He taught them "that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures—to see that Jesus is at the heart of the Word of God. That from beginning to end, every page—every word—points us to Jesus.
And why is this important, beloved? Because we, too, have the sacred Scriptures, which alone are able to make people wise unto salvation. Do you want to know what the Bible is all about? Have you ever been asked by a non-Christian friend, "What is the point of the Bible? What is the main teaching?" It's an awfully large collection of books, filled with lots of teaching, but what's it really all about?
Jesus tells us very plainly in our text. And it is a message that can be heard and understood and proclaimed by all people—from little children to wizened grannies and grandpas. "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." That is what Jesus says the Bible is all about—Him!—specifically, His suffering, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
This message of Good News—the Gospel—is what the Christian church has been heralding for 2000 years! From the Apostles of Jesus—down to each and every Christian today—you and me. This is our joy—our duty—our sacred responsibility. To bring the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name to all the world.
We are called upon to preach the whole counsel of God—the Law in its full sternness to bring people to repentance over their sin. To help people to see that they are sinners in need of forgiveness and salvation. This is not widely received in our society. Even some churches struggle with calling sin, sin and evil, evil. To talk about sin is seen as a "downer" and not very helpful to reaching out to people with the love of Jesus. But Christ does not give us this option. He tells us to proclaim repentance—to speak His Word truthfully—that ALL people may be led to repent of their sin—you and me included! We all must turn away from sin—recognize it as contrary to God's Word and Will and deserving of His full wrath and punishment in hell.
But we dare not leave people with this message of only the Law. For Christ came for the very purpose of suffering and dying for those who have broken the Law—those who are sinners—you and me and all people! Forgiveness in Jesus' name is to be preached to those who are terrified over their sins—who long to do better—who acknowledge their sins and are sorry for them. The comforting message of the Gospel of Jesus offers His merits to sinners—His perfect life and keeping of the whole Law of God—as well as His suffering and death on the cross in full payment for our breaking of the Law.
This message of forgiveness and peace with God through faith in the Crucified and Risen Christ is what comforts terrified consciences. It's what brings us peace and joy, no matter what we face. For this Jesus who was crucified and suffered death for your sins and mine—has risen from the dead! He has risen in glory—proving that His death as payment for our sin has satisfied the wrath of God. This same Jesus has ascended into heaven, even as we confess each week in the Creed—and now He sits in authority to govern His church and the world with justice and equity. So, too, then do all Christ's people bless and worship Him with great joy, for Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Luke 24:44-53
Ascending with Joy!
v.51-52 While [Jesus] blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy…
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Dear friends in Christ, we have come to the end of the celebration of the great and joyful Easter season in the church year. This is the final week in the "week of weeks" in the special season that marks the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the grave. Indeed, after Jesus' suffering and death on Good Friday, He rested in the tomb for three days, but rose in glorious victory on Easter morning. He then went on to give substantial proofs to His disciples and many others that He had indeed risen from the dead.
Jesus showed them His wounds. As the blessed Fourth Century Church Father, St. Augustine notes (NPNF1 6:456), "He arose, with His wounds healed, His scars kept. For this He judged expedient for His disciples, that His scars should be kept, whereby the wounds of their hearts may be healed. What wounds? The wounds of unbelief. For He appeared to their eyes, exhibiting real flesh." Christ showed to them all the holes in His hands, feet, and side where cruel nails and spear had pierced His flesh. But now, risen in glory, these scars bore witness to the suffering He endured to wipe out our debt of sin—to free us from bondage to sin, death, and the devil. He rose—bodily—with real flesh. Indeed, prior to our Gospel text, Jesus proved that He was no ghost—no mere disembodied spirit—by eating a piece of broiled fish before them!
Over the course of 40 days, Jesus appeared to many and gave convincing proofs of His resurrection and defeat of death. Then He took His disciples to Bethany—the Mount of Olives—and there was visibly taken up into heaven before their eyes. As He ascended He blessed them. And they "returned to Jerusalem with great joy."
Can you imagine, beloved? The disciples had been witnesses to the arrest and crucifixion of their Lord and Master. By grace, He appeared to them after His resurrection. He ate with them. Spoke with them. He taught them. But now He left them. And their response is not sorrow—not grief or fear or trepidation—"What are we going to do now that Jesus is gone? How are we going to carry on?" No, indeed. They fell on their faces in humble worship as He ascended before their eyes—convinced of His divinity at last. They worship and then return to Jerusalem with great joy—the blessing and promise of Christ resting upon them.
For you see, it's not as though Jesus was abandoning them. No indeed, He instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they would be "clothed with power from on high." For was sending "the promise of the Father" upon them. How would they be clothed with power? Who was this promise of the Father that Jesus would send? None other than the Holy Spirit. The Third Person of the Holy Trinity would come upon them at Pentecost (50 days after Jesus' resurrection) and He would clothe them with power—filling them with faith and steadfastness in the words and promises of Jesus. More about that next week as we celebrate the Festival of Pentecost!
Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father—the position of power and authority. Indeed, as Jesus said to His disciples near the end of St. Matthew's Gospel record, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." He now sits in glory at the Father's right hand, with all things in subjection to Him. He is there to rule the universe and His church—that His Gospel may be proclaimed into all the world—so that many people may hear and be saved.
Jesus' Ascension is actually good news for the disciples of Jesus—it is Good News for you and me! For now He rules over all things—for your good and for mine. "Well, pastor, it certainly doesn't look like it! I mean, just take a look around you—look at the state of the world—our families—our country—our communities. It seems like a disaster." Nonetheless, what Jesus has declared to be IS true. He is risen from the dead—and He is working to preserve His faithful people.
For remember, Jesus did not come to sit in a King's palace and be served by humanity, but rather to serve humanity with His life, death, and resurrection. This is why, during those 40 days of Easter when He was with His disciples He taught them "that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures—to see that Jesus is at the heart of the Word of God. That from beginning to end, every page—every word—points us to Jesus.
And why is this important, beloved? Because we, too, have the sacred Scriptures, which alone are able to make people wise unto salvation. Do you want to know what the Bible is all about? Have you ever been asked by a non-Christian friend, "What is the point of the Bible? What is the main teaching?" It's an awfully large collection of books, filled with lots of teaching, but what's it really all about?
Jesus tells us very plainly in our text. And it is a message that can be heard and understood and proclaimed by all people—from little children to wizened grannies and grandpas. "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem." That is what Jesus says the Bible is all about—Him!—specifically, His suffering, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
This message of Good News—the Gospel—is what the Christian church has been heralding for 2000 years! From the Apostles of Jesus—down to each and every Christian today—you and me. This is our joy—our duty—our sacred responsibility. To bring the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name to all the world.
We are called upon to preach the whole counsel of God—the Law in its full sternness to bring people to repentance over their sin. To help people to see that they are sinners in need of forgiveness and salvation. This is not widely received in our society. Even some churches struggle with calling sin, sin and evil, evil. To talk about sin is seen as a "downer" and not very helpful to reaching out to people with the love of Jesus. But Christ does not give us this option. He tells us to proclaim repentance—to speak His Word truthfully—that ALL people may be led to repent of their sin—you and me included! We all must turn away from sin—recognize it as contrary to God's Word and Will and deserving of His full wrath and punishment in hell.
But we dare not leave people with this message of only the Law. For Christ came for the very purpose of suffering and dying for those who have broken the Law—those who are sinners—you and me and all people! Forgiveness in Jesus' name is to be preached to those who are terrified over their sins—who long to do better—who acknowledge their sins and are sorry for them. The comforting message of the Gospel of Jesus offers His merits to sinners—His perfect life and keeping of the whole Law of God—as well as His suffering and death on the cross in full payment for our breaking of the Law.
This message of forgiveness and peace with God through faith in the Crucified and Risen Christ is what comforts terrified consciences. It's what brings us peace and joy, no matter what we face. For this Jesus who was crucified and suffered death for your sins and mine—has risen from the dead! He has risen in glory—proving that His death as payment for our sin has satisfied the wrath of God. This same Jesus has ascended into heaven, even as we confess each week in the Creed—and now He sits in authority to govern His church and the world with justice and equity. So, too, then do all Christ's people bless and worship Him with great joy, for Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.