Barnsley Baptist Church

Transcription

1 Barnsley Baptist Church Sunday 13 th May 2018 Theme: The Ascension of Jesus. Preacher: Rev Ken Jefferson Introduction. I wonder what you were doing on Thursday the 10 th May- just three days ago. I know many of you lead very busy lives, so you may need a moment just to wind back and recall where you were and what was happening. It may well have been a routine sort of day, with the normal run of demands to be faced and embraced. However cam I suggest that it ought to have been a special day for you as a Christian because Thursday was Ascension day. You may that this bit of news is interesting but of no more than that, because Ascension day or not, it didn t make any difference or any impact upon you. It just came and went like any other day. I am for ever glad that I lived in a place at a time when this day was a national holiday, and I had the joy of inviting local churches in Westville Durban to come together for a celebration. They agreed and the Anglican priest called me and asked how many did I think would attend a service at 9,0 clock in the morning on a public holiday. He suggested around 80, and I said let s imagine we will get 300! He almost dropped the phone with surprise. In the event 330 people turned up and it was a memorable service indeed, and the start of much more co-operation between the churches at festival times. Festival times! This is what Ascension day ought to be. I know that it is simply by-passed in many Christian traditions even today, and I am not sure if it still merits a verse of hymn as it used to do on the BBC radio. Our friends in the Catholic and Anglo Catholic traditions still observe the day, and listen tothis, I think we should revive the observance of it ourselves. If God spares us, I think we should write it into our calendar for next year, so can the deacons take due note and bring it up at the next meeting. Now why am I suggesting this? For this good reason. The church traditionally and rightly saw the Feast of the Ascension as the crown of all the Christian Feasts. The Feast of the Ascension marked the completion of Christ s ministry on earth. It served as a signal a clear signal that the resurrection appearances ( apart from an appearance to Saul of Tarsus) had come to an end. In no sense did the ministry of Jesus just fizzle out, in an unfortunate or pathetic way. They came to a full stop and a new era and a new experience of His presence began Jesus always knew there was a planned circularity in this mission. He knew He had come from God and He was going to God. His Father had sent Him into world for a set purpose, the purpose of reconciling men to Himself, and when that work was done, He was to return to heaven, returning to, the place prepared for Him, reserved for Him, the that was His by right, a place, a seat at the right hand of the Majesty on High, a place where He who had been made a little lower than the angels, He who had humbled for a season, would be crowned with glory and honour. Do you remember what the Writer to the Hebrews says of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith? He says that it was for the joy that was set before him that Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Jesus not only endured the Cross, He triumphed in the resurrection. When the apostles first preached the gospel, they said specifically that God raised Jesus from the dead. They declared themselves to be witnesses of this fact. They said that Jesus was not abandoned to the grave, nor did His body see decay. Then they said. God raised this Jesus to life. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. The ascension is the crown and completion of all the earthly ministry of Jesus. Now it is true that the New testament doesn t tells us too much about the manner of the ascension. It doesn t t detail then physical aspects. Joh doesn t mention it at all and Mark in that last bit of his gospel which look like a lost ending that has been stitched on, simply says, After the Lord Jesus had spoken he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Matthew again doesn t describe the ascension, but he does speak of Jesus gathering His disciples together on a mountain in Galilee, and we must just look at this moment of departure because it says 4 very important things. Look at the text, (Matthew 28 v ) Do you see how vital this passage

2 is. that Jesus 1. Declares his power. 2. Gives his disciples a purpose. 3. He makes a promise and 4. He gave them a presence. But it is when we turn to Luke that we do rather better. Luke wrote two works, his gospel and the book of Acts, and in the matter of the ascension, we get two bites at the cherry we might say. In the first place Luke tells us the following. When he had led them out of the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. What is so special about this? Simply this. How easy is it to part from someone who has been the love of your life, knowing that as far as you can tell, you will never meet again this side of heaven? In Romeo and Juliet we are told that parting is such sweet sorrow. But it is only sweet sorrow because the lovers can t wait until they see each other again. Most parting experiences are of a different order. Tomorrow I shall again be at Manchester Airport and it is like all Airports one of the happiest and the hardest of places. The arrivals are all excitement and expectation but the departures although they may have something of this are also places that can be fraught with tough emotions, especially at the thought of losing someone we love. This is of course to say nothing of the much greater loss that we have all suffered when someone passes away. But look how it is when Jesus leaves. There is a complete absence of sorrow. There is nothing broken hearted, down beat or negative about the disciples. They are practically cheering Jesus on His way.why was there such a mood? Three answers can be given to this question. First of all they knew that Jesus was their Lord. Luke doesn t go into any further detail about the physical departure of Jesus. He doesn t go into any of the physics. He doesn t say how the ascension happened. He simply says that Jesus was taken upthat s the language of loftiness, of elevation of aboveness.- Jesus was taken up before their very eyes and a cloud hid him from their sight. The cloud was the presence of God enveloping Jesus as he was received back to heaven. In his lst letter to Timothy Paul speaks about the mystery of godliness and he speaks of Jesus in this way. He appeared in a body, as vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. The earthly ministry of Jesus came to a fitting climax and worship and joy was the appropriate response. Secondly Luke does say that the disciples were straining their eyes, looking intently up into the sky. Naturally wanting to look and to linger, but they were interrupted by angels who almost seem intrusive. Why are you standing looking up into the sky? And then they follow this question with the most profound statement imaginable. This same Jesus, the Jesus who was crucified, who was dead and buried, who was raised from the dead and has now ascended into heaven will come again in the same way you have seem him go into heaven. That s the third thing Luke highlights. The disciples were totally assured. Jesus would come back again And this statement raises the question. How was Jesus seen going into heaven- He went in glory. How is He coming back? He is coming back in glory. Who says this will be so? Jesus Himself. Just before He taught the lesson of the sheep and the goats as recorded in Matthew 25 v 31ff. He said, When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him. He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and he will separate the people from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right hand and the goats on His left. What does the Writer of the book of Revelation say? Look, He is coming with the clouds and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be. And Paul writing to the Thessalonians in his first letter, is so proud of them as a church. He says, the church will be his hope, his joy, his crown in which He will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes. The hymn writer says this When the Lord to human eyes Shall bestride our narrow skies, Not the child of humble birth, Nor the carpenter of earth; Not the man by all denied Not the victim crucified But the God who died to save But the victor of the grave He it is to whom I fall Jesus Christ, my all in all. He it is to whom I fall. Jesus Christ my all in all. This promise of Jesus return, which He had Himself promised and the angels confirmed, filled the disciples with Joy, joy that enabled them to return to Jerusalem, where lately they had huddled together as a frightened, even panicked and confused group. Now they went back to wait for further instructions and especially for the gift of the Holy Spirit to be bestowed on them.

3 *********************************** Now what are the major lessons that we should learn about the ascension of Jesus. What did and what does it mean for us? What kind of practical impact should it have for us.? Why should we even think about it at all? The ascension is so important because it tells us that Jesus left one place in order to fill all space. Jesus when He ascended went back to where He belongs, at the right hand of the throne of God, right to the centre of everything, Paul says in Ephesians that Jesus who once descended, is the very one who ascended, higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe. (Ephesians 4.10.). What a mighty God we have, what an incomparable Christ we have. He who made our world and all worlds, is right there at the centre of everything. He is the cosmic Christ. Let me put this more simply and say that our belief in the Ascension of Jesus gives us the faith to say, of Jesus, He has the whole world in his hands. Everything that impacts our world, your world and my world is in His hands, and this includes all that appears to threaten our world and drive it into senseless violence, economic chaos, sub human atrocities and much more. All that threatens to disturb, destroy and de-stable us, and doesn t make sense to us, does not usurp His position or His power. He is in the heavens, and He cannot and will not be dethroned. God has exalted Him to the Highest place and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil ) During this last week we have seen massive displays of military power, and we have seen a man re-instated for a fourth term in Russia. All kinds of new sophisticated hardware on display, many symbols of power. We have seen news of secretive meetings between North Korea and China being disclosed, and we have seen a Nuclear Treaty scrapped. Do we live in a dangerous world? Yes we do? But do we believe that any of the key players who strutt across the stage of history have any more than passing power? No we don t. We know they will have their time but it will pass. There is only one unchanging seat of power, and it is a seat that is occupied by our Lord and Saviour A Lord who cares about all His creation and all his creatures. He is a Lord who cares about the people of Hawaii who face a natural disaster, and cares about the people of Kenya who have suffered loss after two months of rain leading to the bursting of dams. He is the Lord over all and no department of life or death is outwith His authority or control. He has the whole world in His hands. Just ten days ago we were able to take part in a local election. Although on a different scale to a General election and featuring many more minor political figures, the facts were essentially the same. Politicians what to have people in their pocket, but the Lord has the world in His hands. ************************ Now we have said that Jesus left one place to fill all space, we could also add that Jesus left the sight of the few to be present in the hearts of the many. The Ascension did not only mark and ending, it also facilitated a new beginning. When Jesus left He did not become less available but more. He was not removed, He was released. His presence was no longer restricted. He could be, as He would be, as He is, more present with us. Lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age. The apostle Paul tells us how Christ in glory blesses the church. He says that when Jesus returned to His father, when He ascended on high he led captives in his train. We must never forget Jesus returned to heaven He did so as a mighty conqueror as a victor. He could demonstrate the content of His Victory. What are those victories.?they are the victories over sin, over hell. Over death over hell. He won a victory over all the powers that are hostile to God, over all that has made us slaves, all that has made us afraid. And Jesus has empowered the churchto continuehis work and win victories for Him in the world, to make sure the church is fit for purpose. He has given gifts to the church.what are these gifts? They are out lined for us By Paul, in Ephesians 4.v.11 when he says Jesus gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and teachers, to prepare God s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. And supremely He gave the gift of the Holy Spirit, not to make up for His absence, but to continue His presence in the heart and soul of every believer, in your heart and mine. We will gladly celebrate Pentecost next Sunday, but we can see today, that the giving and the coming of the Spirit, is directly connected to the ascension of the Spirit. The gift of the Spirit is a gift Jesus the Son, receives from God the Father to pour out on the church, to empower her for mission in the world

4 This is exactly what Peter said on the day of Pentecost. When the people were totally astonished by the disciples preaching the gospel and over coming all communication problems because they were given the gift of languages, Peter addressed the crowd and said. God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witness to this fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and poured out what you now see and hear. And then we need to remember that when Jesus returned to heaven, His earthly work was finished, but His heavenly ministry was just getting under way. In other words when Jesus ascended it did not mean there was less help on hand. These days through which we are living are difficult in some essential respects. We are meant to be far better off than generations before us, but much of that kind of comment needs to be qualified, because we feel less assisted than we use to be. This is especially the case in relation to medical help. We do appreciate the massive advances in understanding of sickness and disease, and we do appreciate the outstanding skills that health professionals possess. The problem is gaining access to the benefits that are there. It is harder to get help and it certainly feels more remote and impersonal. Time was when you visited someone whom you knew and who knew you and who knew you parents before you. You felt there was care that was available and personal, now with cut backs,it feels that care, even if it is quality care, may take time and considerable effort to reach, and attention can be delayed for months before it is accessed. Let me say something very simple, but that I happen to think is very important. It is just this. When Jesus was taken up into heaven, it did not mean that there was a cut back in His ministry. It did not mean He was less available- It was and is just the opposite. He is more available. We can say this because when Jesus went back to heaven He went there and is there to do so much for us. His work, His finished work on earth was wonderful, and His continuing work in heaven is no less wonderful. It is there that He fulfills the role for which He was as the bible says, designated, the role of being our High Priest. The bible says He did not take this honor upon Himself, it was conferred on Him. The writer to the Hebrews tells us this and he also says that in the normal way of things, priests, like pastors, come and go. They live out their life of service and then they pass on and their priesthood obviously comes to an end. But the priesthood of Jesus is different. It is not temporary. It is permanent. Jesus lives for ever, and because He does so His priesthood is not only permanent, it never loses its power. Jesus, says the writer, is able to save completely those who come to Him, because He always lives to intercede for us. He is constantly presenting our needs, constantly pleading our case before the Father in heaven. It is on our behalf that Jesus, who has all the necessary qualifications, the qualifications of a perfect sacrifice, is able to enter into the Holy Place, the very presence of God, and then and there He intercedes with God on our behalf. There He makes all our needs, all our wishes, and all our wants known to God. He has become the new and living way into the presence of God for us. The Writer to the Hebrews says that the sacrifice Jesus made when His body was offered on the cross. Opened the curtain into God s presence and we can with total confidence in Jesus now enter into His presence, knowing that He has made us clean enough, acceptable enough, to stand where otherwise we would not dare to stand, in the presence of a holy God. And the joy of this day when we celebrate the ascension of Jesus is that not only does He pray for us, He understands us, because He became one of us. He shared our lives and endured our temptations. He feels with us and for us. There is a rather wonderful story told about Queen Victoria. You know that when she lost her beloved Albert she went into mourning that lasted for a very long time. She hid herself away and spent much of her time being thoroughly inconsolable, at Balmoral in Scotland. While she was there she learned on one occasion that a woman, a worker in her service had lost her husband. She had herself taken to the woman stiny and basic cottage. She knocked and asked to be allowed to come in to see the grief stricken woman. What she do then. She simply went to the sink, filled a kettle ad made a cup of tea, sat down, put her arm around the woman and said, I know exactly how you feel. The empress, sovereign over one fifth of the entire population of the world sat in a humble cottage and shared with someone in grief. On this Ascension day we rejoice in the fact that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Feels with us and for us, even as He reigns over us and by way of recognising this personally I want you to turn with me to the words of a very powerful song. It is number 829 in Mission praise where we read. For the joys and for the sorrows, The best and worst of times, For this moment and tomorrow

5 For all that lies behind Fears that crowd around me For the failure of my plans For the dreams of all I hope to be The truth of what I am. For this I have Jesus. For this I have Jesus. For this I have Jesus. I have Jesus.