“What Does Christ’s Ascension Mean for You?”
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen. In today’s Reading from the Book of Acts, Luke tells us, “After his
suffering, [Jesus] 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.” That is why the Ascension of Our Lord is
celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter Sunday. A few years ago the editor of another denomination’s magazine, similar
to “The Lutheran Witness,” had a big editorial about how Ascension Day happened
to fall on a Thursday that year. He went on and on about how unfortunate
it is that Ascension is a Christian holy day we don’t celebrate with as much
fanfare as Christmas or Easter, and it was sad that because Ascension that year
happened to fall on a Thursday instead of a Sunday, it would be largely ignored. Of course, the next month there was a red-faced retraction of
that editorial. Apparently the editor didn’t realize that since the
Ascension of Our Lord comes forty days after Easter Sunday, it always falls on a
Thursday, every year. But, that embarrassed editor was right about one thing. Although
the Ascension of Our Lord is one of the major Christian holy days, we really
don’t celebrate it with as much fanfare as Christmas or Easter, and maybe we
don’t understand what the Ascension of Our Lord is all about. We know what
Christmas means: Jesus was born; we know what Easter means: he rose from the
dead. But, what is the significance of this holy day, which we are
observing today on the Sunday after the Ascension? You are invited to follow the sermon outline on the last pages of the
bulletin as we ask: “What Does Christ’s Ascension Mean for You?” Christ’s Ascension means, first of all, that his work of redemption is
COMPLETE, for you. Hebrews says, “After he had provided purification for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” You may be aware that government regulations actually allow into our
food certain levels of such things as insect parts, but that food can still be
labeled “pure and unadulterated.” God, however, insists on a much higher
standard of purity. For admission into heaven, God requires absolute
purity, 100% holiness, no trace amounts of sin allowed. This is a test all
of us fail, for all have sinned and fall short of the perfection God requires. There is nothing we could ever do to purify ourselves and make up for
our sins. But, “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down
at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” One of our communion hymns
says, “Offered was he for greatest and for least, himself the victim and himself
the priest.” Jesus Christ is your great high priest who purified you by
sacrificing himself to atone—make up for—your sins. As Hebrews says, “We
do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in heaven;” “When this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for
sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.” So, Christ’s Ascension means, first of all, his work of redemption is
complete, for you. Trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. As
Hebrews says, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame,
and took his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” What does Christ’s Ascension mean for you? Christ’s Ascension
means, the God-Man Jesus is your KING. While he was here on earth, Christ
did not always and fully use his divine power, but he humbled himself, as Paul
says in Philippians, “Who, existing in God’s form, did not consider His being
equal with God a thing for self‑glorification, but he emptied himself, by taking
a servant’s form when in human likeness, and, being found in appearance as a
man, he humbled himself, by being obedient unto death—even death on a cross!” The Ascension marks the end of Christ’s earthly humiliation, and the
glorification of his human nature. Not only as God but also as man he is
the mighty ruler of all things. As Paul continues in Philippians,
“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.” When the Scriptures say that Christ “sits at the right hand of God the
Father,” it doesn’t refer to a physical or spatial reality, but a spiritual
reality. In ancient times kings would often have what was called the
“right hand man.” He sat at the right hand of the king, and to him was given all
power and authority by the king to rule over the kingdom, as Pharaoh gave to Joseph.
So, when we say in the creed that Christ “sits at the right hand of God the
Father Almighty,” it means that the God-Man Jesus Christ has complete power and
authority over all things, in the whole universe. Christ is your king in three ways, he has a three-fold kingdom: power,
grace, and glory. Christ’s Kingdom of Power means that he rules over all creation and all
people, both believers and unbelievers. As the song says, “He’s got the
wind and the rain, in his hands; he’s got the sun and the moon, in his hands;
he’s got you and me brother, in his hands; he’s got the whole world in his
hands.” And Christ is also the absolute ruler of the spirit world, as Peter
says, “Who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels,
authorities and powers in submission to him.” We may think the world is completely out of control and run amuck.
We may think that the devil and his demons are free to attack us. But,
Christ is in complete control. As Paul says in Ephesians, “God raised
Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can
be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” So, why do things in this world happen the way they do? Paul goes
on to tell us the governing principle of Christ’s rule: “And God placed all
things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the
Church.” Everything that happens in this world is for the Church.
For the protection, and blessing, It helps to have friends in high places, and you have the best friend,
in the highest place. “And God placed all things under his feet and
appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” In Romans
we are given the
beautiful assurance, “God works all things together for the good of those who
love him.” We may not comprehend how all things in this world are working
together for our good, but we trust that Christ, our king, is doing exactly
that, as he rules his Kingdom of Power. Christ’s Kingdom of Grace is the Holy Christian Church on earth, all
who have faith in him. Peter said at Pentecost, “God has raised this Jesus
to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 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.” Christ is the founder, ruler, and head of
his Church on earth. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ empowers the Church
to serve him and witness for him. As Peter says in Acts, “God exalted him
to his own right hand as Prince and Savior, that he might give repentance and
forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things.” Christ’s Kingdom of Grace is the Church on earth, and Christ’s Kingdom
of Glory is the Church in heaven. The thief on the cross says to Jesus,
“Remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and Jesus replies, “Today you
will be with me in paradise.” That is the Kingdom of Glory: Paradise,
heaven. Christ your king will take you to be with him in paradise.
As Paul says in 2nd Timothy, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and
will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.” What does Christ’s Ascension mean for you? Christ’s Ascension means, he
is INTERCEDING for you. Paul says in Romans, “Christ Jesus, who died—more
than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also
interceding for us.” In ancient kingdoms, it was the job of the “right
hand man” to receive petitions and requests and pass them on to the king.
In the throne room, one would never address the king directly, but speak to the
king only through the king’s “right hand man.” Jesus says, “The Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
God the Father’s “right hand man” accepts your prayers and petitions, and he
intercedes with the Father for you. And because of his Son’s perfect
righteousness God the Father hears and acts on your prayers, for his Son’s sake. Jesus especially continually pleads with the Father for your
forgiveness, on account of his sacrifice for you. As John says, “If anybody does
sin, we have one who pleads with the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous
One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but
also for the sins of the whole world.” What does Christ’s Ascension mean for you? Finally, Christ’s
Ascension means, he will COME AGAIN. Jesus declares, “In the future you
will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming
on the clouds of heaven.” The angels say to the disciples, “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.” And Revelation proclaims, “Look, he is
coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him.” Jesus will come again, at the Last Day. His Second Coming could
occur at any time. At the moment he comes again, heaven and earth will pass
away, all the dead will be raised and judged, and you and all believers will
enter into eternal life. As Paul says in Colossians, “Set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your
minds on things above, not on earthly things. . . When Christ, who is your
life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” What does Christ’s Ascension means for you? His work of redemption is COMPLETE, for you: “After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” The God-Man Jesus is your KING: “God raised Christ from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and
authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in
the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things
under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” He is INTERCEDING for you: “Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who
was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” And he will COME AGAIN: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then
you also will appear with him in glory.” Amen. Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office
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