The Ascension of Jesus

May 31, 1992

Acts 1:1-11

Introduction

[Consider using #513 as "Lesson"- The Apostle Creed, with emphasis on the phrase, "He ascended into heaven.."]

If we are consistent in observing special days, we need to have a few other days in our Christian calendar beyond Christmas and Easter. This past Thursday was also a special day in the church year. (What was it? Right! I knew you would know!) It was Ascension Day, the 40th day after Easter, the day we are reminded where Jesus IS!

[Narrative: Jesus walked up the hill called Olivet. He spoke a few last, important words. Then He simply 'lifted off' and a cloud received Him out of the disciples' sight. Jesus was gone!]

Is this to be taken as history? Is it simply another of the many myths about the comings and goings of man's invented divinities? WHAT DOES "HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN" SAY TO US? IS JESUS STILL THE JESUS OF GALILEE AND THE GOSPELS?

I. WHAT HAS CHANGED, FOR THE DISCIPLES?

  1. On the surface of it, everything was changed. And it couldn't be for the better— for what could be better than having the Son of God on hand, visible, palpable, audible— now in a moment of time He is gone, and apparently He is not coming back for a while!
  2. But as the next few days and weeks unfold, the changes begin to clarify:
    1. The locus of the evangel of the Gospel; It WAS the Person of Jesus in the flesh, in His face and spoken word and deed; NOW it is indeed in the Person and work of Jesus, ... ...but NOW in His BODY the church ("As the Father hath sent Me, so send I you. "YE shall receive power the Holy Spirit coming upon you... "YE shall be witnesses unto Me...")
    2. The scope of the assignment has now gone into Phase Two; the CHURCH becomes the vehicle, where before it had been Israel, and Jesus own message had been limited to the immediate vicinity of Galilee and Judea. Now "YE are a chosen people, a royal priesthood... "Ye shall witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria.. and the uttermost part of the earth... (NOTE "part" not "parts"— it is where we are, not where we aren't ...)
  3. The actual level of personal attention on the part of God, the level of intimacy, if you please, has the potential for becoming constant.

II. WHAT REMAINS THE SAME?

  1. Jesus is the same!
    1. This same Jesus will return! Human! Physical!
    2. This same Jesus cares deeply for each of His OWN. That does not change! "I have kept them Thou gavest Me!" (John 17) Jesus is still very much involved with each one of His children/ servants/ friends!
  2. Jesus' MISSION is still the same! Only now Jesus is doing His mission through the Church; through YOU and me! Why did Jesus come?
    1. HE CAME TO SHOW THE WORLD THE FATHER GOD! He is the Word. He came to reveal God. Not to simply teach about God, but to BE God-with-us! Jesus gives God a focus to our finite understanding.
    2. HE CAME TO SAVE THE WORLD! He came to brings us God's LOVE and God's LIFE. He came to DIE for our sins. But now Jesus has committed this task of bringing the news of salvation to US! To the CHURCH— to YOU and to ME!
  3. Jesus' SPIRIT is still the same: We are not supposed to try to continue His work in our own worldly ways. LOVE is still the dominating power; love is still stronger than hate. HOPE is still a legitimate dynamic- Jesus has promised that we can trust the future in His hands. FAITH is still our viable connection with the Father— and we are to live by constant communication and prayer!

III. WHAT, THEN, IS THE ADVANTAGE OF THE ASCENSION?

  1. HE IS NOW WITH US IN REALITY BY HIS SPIRIT

    Jesus sends us the Spirit of God. "If I do not go away, " He said, "the Comforter will not come. But if I go away I will send Him to you."

  2. HE IS AT THE THRONE OF GRACE FOR US
    1. He is God's WORD to us, and now He becomes our ADVOCATE, our word, to God! (Romans 8 "He makes intercession")
    2. Jesus is our tender, kind, High Priest, ascended into the Holy of Holies with His sacrifice for sins, but bearing also the knowledge of our frailty. We are loved at the center of the Universe! Jesus prays for us. Conclusion:
    3. He fulfills all scripture: All the promises of the Word are there for anyone to read; but somehow it is different when we realize that "ONE OF US" is there at the Right Hand of All Power!

We know that He will make all things come 'round to His Glory and OUR (ultimate) GOOD! (Romans 8:28!)

There's an old story about a mother who wanted to keep her child informed as well as amused; so she bought a jig-saw puzzle picture-map of the earth, with lots of pieces. "See how long it takes you to put this map together," she said.

The boy had the map finished in just a very few minutes. It was amazing! "How did you do it so fast?" the mother asked.

"Actually, it was easy!" was the answer. "There is a picture of a man on the back. I just slid it on the checkerboard and turned it over!"

There is the face of a Man at the Back of All History! And that Man is even now at the Throne of the Universe! He ascended into heaven! If we keep His face in view, He will make sense, finally, of our world!

Do YOU need reassurance in your world? I do in mine! There are times when I am absolutely overwhelmed! IT IS THEN I REALIZE I NEED TO LOOK FOR 'THE MAN'S FACE ON THE BACK OF THE PUZZLE!'

Prayer: Thank You for helping us to pray, and helping us to live for You day by day.

Hymn No. 157 The Lord Jehovah Reigns