The Ascension of our Lord - 5-21-09

The Church Season of Easter,
The Ascension of our Lord, One Year Series
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Midland, MI (May 21, 2009)

“Witnesses”

Readings:
Psalm 110

2 Kings 2:5-15
Acts 1:1-11
Luke 24:44-53

Sermon Form: Deductive

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from the Father
and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

The text for today’s message will be from the Gospel lesson as recorded in the 24th chapter of St. Luke, especially the following verses:

Luke 24:44-53 (NIV)

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

In our Gospel lessons over the past weeks and months, starting with Advent we heard the proclamation of the birth Jesus Christ, His life and ministry, His death on a cross, His burial and His triumphant resurrection on Easter morning. In all those events the message was clear, those Bible passages we could remember. But what about today? Christ’s Ascension, why in the world are we here tonight? We are hear in the world acknowledging Christ ascended, we say it in our creeds, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”

But first things first, Jesus pointed to the scriptures which said that the, “Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”(v. 46) All these prophecies in Christ are now fulfilled.

Jesus, is the Messiah who was with the Father at the beginning in the creation of the world, who witnessed the fall of man. Christ descended from His heavenly home and became human flesh. In His birth He is glorified by the angels and a multitude of heaven, who sing “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth, peace goodwill toward men.” But, the peaceful earthly beginning for that baby would not stay that way. For Christ’s journey would lead to His bloody death on a cross. Because Jesus became man, He suffered the shame and dishonor of this world. The burden of this Humiliation was so much to bear that even the Son of Man. For Christ prayed in Gethsemane on the Mt. of Olives saying: “Oh my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”(Mt. 26:39) Yet He heard and followed His Father’s will including, being spat upon, whipped, and beaten, disgraced in public trial, a crown of thorns pressed into His head, His hands and feet nailed, and His body raised upon the cross, even as He breathed His last breath as His accusers shouted their condemnation and evil words.

That is the extreme meaning of humiliation, to have all the authority of heaven and earth, yet not lift a finger to change the events that would fulfill prophecy. Jesus tells the apostles that they were witnesses of all the great things in His earthly ministry. Now these apostles were to be witnesses to Christ’s Ascension into the heavenly realm. And that is why we are here, we are here to we acknowledge Christ.

During the Vigil of Easter you’ll recall from that service the sanctuary was darkened in recollection of the events of Good Friday. And as the service went on there was utter darkness. But as the Gospl lesson was read the paschal candle was lit signifying that the true Light, Jesus Christ, had come into the world. It was, in fact, a celebration that the dayspring of our salvation had risen from the grave, for us. Tonight you witnessed that same paschal candle being extinguished during the Gospel reading. Yet Christ is not gone from us in His Ascension, the candle remains, and a lot more importantly our salvation remains. This absence of light signifies that Christ has now ascended and we wait here patiently and always prepared for His return.

Today on the Day of the Ascension of our Lord, there is no weeping, Jesus blessed the disciples, and as He blessed them he was carried up into heaven. The disciples were not frightened, and they did not weep, because this is not defeat, this is triumph. Jesus conquered sin and death for us, and in His ascension, all that had been wrong had been righted, and all our sin is undone. In His humiliation the veil of the temple that separated man from the Holy of Holies was torn in two when His life was given for the forgiveness of our sins. All Christ’s priestly work that He completed in the flesh, now continues as He is with us in heaven. Yet as He promised us He IS with each of us always, He is with you here even today. So as we celebrate today Christ’s Ascension, we also celebrate the Christ who was, who is, and who will come again. No, Christ is not in a far off place, we are surrounded and engulfed by His love. The paschal candle will only be lit again for special occasions. It is lit when there is a baptism, for that light is a reflection of the one who saves sinners, He saved you too there in those baptismal waters, with the fire of the paschal candle glowing in the background . That candle will be lit for anyone who dies in the faith, for that light signifies the one who at His death fulfilled His promise of everlasting life for each one of you.

Today we recall that Christ conquered sin and death and He ascended from the earthly Jerusalem to His heavenly kingdom. That is Christ’s victory and you have not only witnessed it you now live it too. For you are one with Christ, His victory is given to you so that one day He will bring you to Himself. As you close your eyes in your final hour, you too will brought to Christ and, “you will be clothed with power from on high.”(v. 49 ) He will cause you to ascend, and then you will stay “continually at [His] temple, praising God.”(v. 53) Amen.

The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

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