Lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Ascension Day. What is going on? Why is Jesus leaving? Is this day all about saying goodbye to Jesus? NO!
The Disciples are filled with GREAT JOY. Ascension – Jesus has fulfilled ALL that He has PROMISED to do. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also....“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14)
Ascension JOY. Jesus goes to prepare a place for you. Jesus did all the preparation for you to go to heaven. Jesus’ prefect life. His death on the Cross to pay for all your sins. Jesus rising from the dead to show the Father has accepted Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf.
All preparation is done. Ascension Day is filled with great comfort. “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. (Eph. 4)
Jesus has died. He has Risen and ascended. We do not worship an absent Jesus. Instead an ever-present help in time of trouble.
WORD.
The Word is filled with power for you to hear and believe. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6)
BAPTISM.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1)
LORD'S SUPPER.
The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Corinthians 10)
ALL POWER & AUTHORITIY ARE IN CHRIST. Jesus has come to defeat all our enemies. Sin, death & the devil. Jesus seated at the Right Hand of the Father is not place of location. Rather Christ’s position of POWER. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent...through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1)
Ascension fills the Disciples of Jesus with GREAT JOY. Christians gather around Jesus to worship Christ in Spirit and Truth. Happy Ascension Day. In Name + of Jesus. Amen.