1 He Ascended into heaven Ac 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach Ac 1:2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. Ac 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Ac 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Ac 1:5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Ac 1:6 So when they met together, they asked him, Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Ac 1:7 He said to them: It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. Ac 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Ac 1:9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. Ac 1:10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. Ac 1:11 Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. Luke 24 :50-53 Lk 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. Lk 24:51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Lk 24:52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Lk 24:53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
2 The title of my sermon is four words from the Apostles creed. We said them earlier - He ascended into heaven I have chosen this topic because today is Ascension Sunday. It is not actually Ascension day today does anyone know when it was? Yes it was last Thursday. Whatever happened to Ascension day? It used to an important day in the Church Calendar I can remember when I was at school we always had a days holiday from school on Ascension day. I remember it well because I always went Trainspotting on Ascension day! Ascension Day is always on the same day of the week It s always on Thursday - 40 days after Easter Sunday. It might not be a major festival in this country but 12 European countries still have a public holiday on Ascension day. Christmas and Easter are still major public holidays but today in the UK no one seems to have much awareness of Ascension day. But should we bother? Are we neglecting a major event or should we not see it as important any more? Ascension day was the day Jesus said Goodbye to his disciples it was to be the last time they would see him on Earth. Jesus left our world and moved into heaven.
3 It was a definitely a major event for the disciples - it was to make a huge change to their lives. They had been with Jesus every day for 3 or more years and now he was gone. He had returned to His Father in heaven. Jesus had moved to another location. When we move to another location it can mark a major change in our lives and in the lives of people we leave behind. Whether it s leaving the family home to go to university or when we move area for another job, it is a significant event And it is often something that is both sad and happy and something to be celebrated. After Jesus resurrection from the dead, He moved to a new location. He ascended to heaven! This morning, we are going to consider the ascension of Jesus Christ and its relevance for our present life and for eternity. It s important for our faith and our everyday Christian lives that we understand why it happened and how it benefits us all. Let s look at the Biblical accounts of the Ascension. In fact they are very few. Matthew doesn t mention it. Mark does record the Ascension but only in the ending which is generally agreed is a late edition. John doesn t describe the ascension.
4 Only Luke relates in detail what happened during Jesus s last moments on Earth. And they have been our two readings this morning. In his gospel Luke tells us that the risen Jesus took the disciples to the vicinity of Bethany. We don t know how long they were there for or what they did but at a certain point Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed them. Luke then says he left them and ascended into heaven. In Acts chapter 1 Luke repeats the story of the Ascension and gives more details. He tells us that Jesus was taken up, he was enveloped by a cloud and after he had left them two men or angels appeared who said Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." The ascension has a lot of similarities with the Transfiguration where Jesus again was enveloped by a cloud. At the transfiguration Jesus returned to them - this time however Luke says Jesus left them, he was taken up, he ascended into heaven. Although the actual accounts of the ascenision are brief there had been several earlier occasions when it was stated that it would happen. Earlier in Luke 9:51 we read As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Jesus knew that before him lay the cross and the resurrection, but also the ascension. He knew he would return to heaven to be with the Father.
5 John 3 ;13 When Jesus met Nicodemas he said No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven the Son of Man. [d And in John 6.62 What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! In John 20:17 after his resurrection Jesus says to Mary "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " Outside the Gospels there are several references to the ascension. Paul quotes Psalm 68;18 and applies it to Jesus in Ephesians 4 8-10 ---- This is why it [ says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."9(what does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions [c]? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) Hebrews 4;14 says Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. And 1 Peter 3; 22 says Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. So the Bible is clear that Jesus always knew that he would one day return to the Father He would be exalted and sit at God s right hand. But what does the Ascension mean for you and me? What is it s significance?
6 How does it help me in the here and now? Well one reason why the ascension is so important is that it was followed by the coming of the Spirit Jesus told the disciples in John 16, Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, Where are you going? Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. (Jn. 16:5-7) Jesus continued in verse 12, I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. (Jn. 16:12-14) So the going of Jesus allowed for the coming of the Spirit, and the coming of the Spirit ushered in the beginning of the church. The Holy Spirit brings us hope, peace and power, while at the same time convicting me of my sin when I get off course. In the build up to Pentecost we are having a series of prayer meetings next week. Another reason the ascension was necessary, is because it allowed Jesus to begin His permanent, heavenly ministry. It has been said that: At the ascension Jesus left the here for the everywhere. He left the now for the eternal. He left the First Century to fill all the centuries. Just as the grave could not hold Him when His Father raised Him
7 from the dead, so the earth could not hold Him when the time came for Him to return to His Father. Peter wrote, For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit Jesus Christ, has gone into heaven and is at God s right hand with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Pt. 3:18,21,22) Jesus has defeated sin and one day will reign completely. In heaven, at God s right hand, Jesus is our interceding High Priest, giving us the grace we need for life and service (Heb. 4:14-16). The writer of Hebrews says, And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. [Heb. 10:11-14] The Bible also tells us that the ascended Jesus is also our Advocate before the Father, forgiving us when we confess our sins (1 Jn. 1:9-2:2) Praise God, Sin does not disqualify our salvation. John spoke about this when He wrote, My little children, I am writing these to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate before the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. [1 Jn. 2:1-2] The writer of Hebrews says, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. [Heb. 7:25] Although the group of Disciples didn t see Jesus on Earth again some of them did glimpse him again in heaven. In Acts 7, we read about Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
8 a. As he was on trial before the Sanhedrin, the Bible says, But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55-58) Saul who had watched Stephen die had his own encounter with the risen and ascended Christ. (Acts 9:3-6) About seventy years later, the apostle John was on the island of Patmos, exiled by the Roman authorities, when Jesus the resurrected and ascended Christ appeared to him. So we see that the ascended Christ is very much alive and active. He is standing beside his followers as they face trouble and persecution. He is calling people into ministry, and He is inspecting His churches. The Ascension is also closely linked to Jesus future return to Earth The angels said Men of Galilee,, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11) Their rebuke seems almost humorous Why are you standing around staring into the sky? In so many words, they said, Yes, Jesus is going to come back the same way you saw him go, So the ascension testifies to the fact of our Lord s return. He will come back. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and He will come back to take us to be with Him. Jesus intercedes for us when we feel spiritually low and we don t know what to do or what to pray.
9 Let s listen again to what Paul wrote, Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. [Ro. 8:34] Finally, Jesus is preparing a place in heaven for us He told His heartbroken disciples, Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. [Jn. 14:1-2] The final aspect of the Ascension is the triumph of Christ the King. God has exalted Him and given Him the name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. The Ascension is therefore rightly part of the creed for it reminds us that Jesus has been exalted at God s right hand. The ascension leads to the giving of the Holy Spirit It means that Jesus is able to intercede for us It reminds us that Jesus will come again It shows that Jesus has triumphed over evil Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
10 This morning let us give thanks for Ascension Day and all that it means for each one of us. Amen