The Ascension of our Lord
Luke 24:44-53
May 4, 2008
Pastor Aaron A. Koch
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church
Greenfield, Wisconsin
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
It has become our practice here at Mt. Zion to transfer the festival of the Ascension of our Lord from the day on which it always falls–Thursday, the 40th day of Easter–to the following weekend. This event is such an important one that we don’t want to forget it and just pass it by quickly as if it didn’t matter that much.
The truth, though, is that when it comes to our day to day life, we often do forget the Ascension. We sometimes think and behave as if it didn’t happen, that it’s not real. It doesn’t always impact how we view the world and our everyday living. The Ascension declares to us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father as Lord over all things for His church, that He’s watching over us. But then we behave as if God doesn’t see us when we sin or when we fail to do what is right. We act as if we can get away with it and that the Lord is blind to what we do. Or even more significantly, we question whether or not He’s really in charge. We see the disorder in the world around us and in our own lives and even in our own bodies, and we say in our unbelief, “Is Christ really the King of creation? If He is, why does He allow this or that happen?” We think we’re wiser than God and question His ways and doubt His good and gracious will toward us.
Repent, therefore, and trust again in the comforting truth of the Ascension that the Gospel sets before our eyes today. The Ascension teaches us that Jesus is, in fact, Lord, not only of the world in general, but also of your life in particular. Though chaos may seem to be the rule in this sin-cursed creation, the Ascension is a reminder that He is still in charge and is working even through all the mess of this life toward your ultimate well-being. By it you are given to know that whether times are good or bad, the Lord will never forsake you. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords for the Church, for you.
When Jesus ascended into heaven in the presence of the disciples, it is written that “He lifted up His hands and blessed them.” That was the final image of Himself Jesus gave to His church. Therefore, that is how we also are to picture what our ascended Lord is doing even now, lifting up His hands to bless His people with the gifts He won for us in His death and resurrection.
It struck me as I was meditating on this during the week, that this sounds very much like something that happened in the Old Testament. You may recall how the Israelites were once doing battle with the Amalekites. Moses, was seated on a hill overseeing the battle, and when He lifted up His hands, the Israelites prevailed in the battle. But when He let down His hands out of weariness, then the Amalekites began to prevail. So Moses’ brother Aaron and another man named Hur held up Moses hands all that day, and the Israelites were victorious.
That Old Testament event is certainly meant to teach us of Christ. For as Moses was placed between two men, so our Lord Jesus was crucified between two men with His hands outstretched in blessing and in mercy toward us. When our Lord was lifted up and His hands held high on the cross for all of that day, that is when the greatest victory was won for God’s people. On the battlefield of Golgotha, sin and Satan and death itself lay slain as Christ Jesus triumphed over them through the cross. Our Lord did not grow weary but endured all the way until that final cry, “It is finished.”
Now the risen Lord Jesus ascends bodily with hands lifted up in blessing over us. Those hands are scarred from the nails of crucifixion. By raising up His hands, He displays and sets before our eyes the wounds by which we are healed. It is as if He is saying to us, “All that I accomplished for you on Good Friday and Easter I now give you. Forgiveness of sins, everlasting life and redemption are yours. Receive them all as a free gift. Though you are still in the midst of the battle below, look up to me and see my hands outstretched over you. Know that through Me your victory is assured. At the end of the day, the devil who dogs you, the sin that grabs at you, the death that frightens you–all of them will be defeated enemies. Just look to Me and cling to Me. You are safe under the shelter of My wings. I will work all things, even the evil things, for your good and for the good of all those who love Me, whom I have called in baptism to be My own. Nothing in all creation can separate you from My love.”
That’s why the disciples weren’t sad when Jesus’ ascended; instead they rejoiced. And we also rejoice this day, because all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to our Redeemer. One of us, our Man is on the throne, one who is on our side, our true human brother, Jesus. We have a friend in high places. He is there at the Father’s right hand as our advocate. It is written, “Christ Jesus, who died, more than that, who was raised to life, is at the right hand of God (the Father) and is also interceding for us.” Jesus is speaking on our behalf with the Father and bringing our prayers before Him. Jesus has won for us the Father’s favor through the shedding of His blood. Since that is so, since Jesus is on our side, who now can bring a charge against us or condemn us? Not even the devil himself! It’s all been answered for by Jesus, and the Ascension shows that the Father has accepted the payment Jesus made. God the Father has embraced and honored His Son’s redeeming work and has exalted Him and received Him to His side.
And here’s where it gets even better still: by receiving Jesus to His side, the Father has also received you to His side. For you are in Christ. You are members of His body. In that sense, then, you have already ascended to heaven. That’s how sure your salvation is. It’s not just a future thing, it’s a present reality. As we just sang in the hymn, “He has raised our human nature on the clouds to God’s right hand. There we sit in heavenly places, there with Him in glory stand.” And that hymn is based on the words of Ephesians 2: “Even when we were dead in trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ . . . and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Do you see? Heaven is already yours. You’re already there, because Jesus is already there, and you are in Him. Colossians 3 puts it this way: “Your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Your very existence, your eternal well-being is secure in the One at the Father’s right hand.
Jesus ascended on high so that this Gospel would be preached to you and to all the nations. He was lifted up so that His voice might sound in all the earth through the preachers whom He has sent. One of the last instructions Jesus gave His apostles was to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name. What is done in Jesus’ name is done by Jesus’ Himself. In the Acts reading Luke spoke of all the things that Jesus began to do and teach before His ascension. That means that He continues to do and teach things even after His ascension. Jesus is still very much with us and among through the ministry of His Gospel.
Remember: just because Jesus has ascended does not mean that He’s gone from us. For He said to the apostles, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus is not absent. He is simply hidden from our sight. For it is written in Ephesians, Jesus “ascended far above all the heavens that He might fill all things” in heaven and on earth. Jesus is not confined to one physical spot somewhere. For since God is present everywhere, so also is His right hand where Jesus is seated. So the ascension means that He who from the beginning filled all things as true God now also fills all things as true man. Our Lord is still present in the flesh, with His body and blood; He’s here with His words of life, to bless us.
Of course the day will come when Jesus will no longer be hidden from our sight. Jesus will return, visibly. The two angels said, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come again in the same way you saw Him go into heaven.” Jesus ascended and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And Jesus said of His return, “You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One, and coming on the clouds with power and great glory.” Our Lord Jesus has promised us, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
Your real hope is not in this world but in the one to come. Your life is in Christ. Therefore, the Scriptures exhort you, “Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. . . When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” At that time, you will be like Jesus, for you will see Him just as He is.
So then, do not forget or ignore Jesus’ ascension. Be rid of all your doubts and fears, and believe in this Gospel. Jesus is King over all things for the sake of His church. Your salvation is complete and secure in Him. Christ is interceding for you before the throne of the Father. Jesus is present here to bless you with His words and supper. And the Lord, who has begun His good work in you, will bring it to completion in the Day of His return. Brothers and sisters of Christ, like the disciples let us rejoice in the Ascension of our Lord.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit